AFP, Agerpres, ANSA, BTA, dpa, EFE, FENA
In response to widespread public backlash against the use of artificial intelligence that infringes on privacy and dignity, the European Union is planning significant actions.
Brussels is considering designating the creation of sexually explicit montages as an illegal practice under the Artificial Intelligence Act, following the controversy surrounding sexualized images generated by Grok, a chatbot on Elon Musk’s X platform.
Reactions to Grok
Musk’s company, xAI, faced extensive criticism from the international community and implemented new restrictions on Grok in mid-January regarding sexually suggestive images. This decision came after complaints that Grok allowed users to digitally alter women’s clothing to bikinis and generated sexualized images involving minors.
The initial instances of non-consensual “artificial undressing” emerged shortly after the feature’s launch, particularly peaking around New Year. CNN reported that from January 5 to 6 alone, Grok was used to create at least 6,700 sexual images, with many depicting women and minors.
“This new ‘spicy option’ displaying explicit sexual content, which includes images resembling children, is not spicy. This is illegal and unacceptable,” stated EU digital affairs spokesperson Thoma Renier.
The European Commission, as the digital oversight body of the bloc, announced it would assess the new measures instituted by X. Officials warned that if these measures fall short, the EU may enforce its Digital Services Act more rigorously.
Henna Virkkunen, Vice-President of the European Commission, indicated that the Commission is contemplating a clear ban on AI-generated sexually explicit images through the Artificial Intelligence Act, categorizing them as unacceptable risks.
This potential ban could be instrumental in combating issues related to child pornography and non-consensual sexual montages. Virkkunen emphasized that the Digital Services Act plays a role in reducing the risk of non-consensual sexual content online.
She also mentioned that the Commission had requested information from X regarding Grok as part of its investigation related to the Digital Services Act, mandating the preservation of all internal documents and data until year’s end. “We are currently assessing the extent of any violations of the Digital Services Act by X and will act decisively if warranted,” she added.
The Commission had already increased scrutiny on X, which faced a €120 million fine in early December for failing to adhere to transparency regulations. The EU maintains its commitment to enforcements despite discontent from the US administration.
“The Digital Services Act is explicit in Europe. All platforms are obligated to comply with the rules, as the content generated is unacceptable, and adhering to EU laws is mandatory,” Renier stated amid the escalating situation.
Recently, about 50 Members of the European Parliament urged the EC to ban all applications that utilize AI to create nude imagery from the EU market.
The Grok logo displayed on a smartphone screen. Grok is a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by xAI. Photo: Algi Febri Sugita/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Life without X is tough
Despite criticism aimed at X, research by dpa shows that nearly all senior EU officials continue to post on X rather than on alternative European platforms. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other top officials lack official profiles on Mastodon, a German-based alternative platform. Meanwhile, Virkkunen launched an official profile on Mastodon in January, with some EU politicians also active on Bluesky, a rising US-based platform.
The Commission cites the necessity of using X due to its vast reach: Mastodon has around 750,000 monthly users, compared to X’s 100 million.
The lengthy legal journey to enhanced online safety
The path to safeguarding minors in the EU is complex, with privacy concerns clashing with commercial interests. Several overlapping regulations address the issue:
Chat Control
In 2022, the Commission proposed a regulation mandating platforms to detect and report images and videos of abuse (child sexual abuse material) and attempts by predators to contact minors.
Supported by various child protection groups, the “Chat Control” plan ignited intense privacy debates across the 27-member bloc, facing accusations of promoting mass surveillance.
The final law is expected in early 2026, aiming to reconcile the European Parliament’s privacy-centric approach with the EU Council’s push for broader scanning powers.
While temporary measures for voluntary scanning have been extended until April 2026 to prevent legal gaps, MEPs advocate for a more rapid search for a permanent resolution.
*Members of the “Stop Chat Control!” alliance protest in front of Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior. Photo: Fabian Sommer
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