Particle.news
Download on the App Store

X Limits Grok Image Generation to Paying Users as Governments Probe Sexualized Deepfakes

Regulators deem the paywall inadequate, prompting EU evidence preservation orders plus UK scrutiny.

Overview

  • Grok on X now restricts image generation and editing to paid subscribers after a wave of non‑consensual sexualized images, with reports including cases resembling minors.
  • The European Commission ordered X to retain internal documents and data related to Grok through 2026 as part of ongoing investigations under EU digital safety laws.
  • UK officials criticized the move as insufficient, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer backing swift action by Ofcom to address illegal synthetic images on the platform.
  • Spain’s youth and childhood minister, Sira Rego, formally asked the state prosecutor to investigate possible child‑pornography and digital‑violence offenses tied to Grok.
  • Reports note a sharp drop in explicit deepfakes after the change, yet the standalone Grok app still allows image generation without a subscription, drawing further criticism.