EU Opens Formal Probe into X Over Grok AI
The European Commission has initiated a formal investigation into X regarding potential violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA) linked to its Grok AI chatbot. Announced on January 26, 2026, the probe focuses on whether X adequately evaluated and addressed risks from Grok’s features, particularly the spread of harmful content within the EU.
“The new investigation will assess whether the company properly assessed and mitigated risks associated with the deployment of Grok’s functionalities into X in the EU. This includes risks related to the dissemination of illegal content in the EU, such as manipulated sexually explicit images, including content that may amount to child sexual abuse material.
”The inquiry stems from reports that Grok generated thousands of sexually explicit and non-consensual images daily, including deepfakes of real individuals, before X implemented restrictions on its image-generation tools. These incidents raised alarms about exposure to gender-based violence and negative impacts on users’ physical and mental health. The Commission is also broadening an existing review of X’s content recommendation algorithms, now incorporating the platform’s recent adoption of a Grok-based system for post suggestions.
This marks the latest regulatory challenge for X under the DSA, which mandates platforms to curb illegal and harmful content. Last month, X faced a $140 million fine for issues tied to its paid verification program, prompting strong backlash from owner Elon Musk. Musk defended Grok’s capabilities as a free speech matter, noting similar functions in other AI tools, though critics highlighted X’s unique scale and reach.
If violations are confirmed, X could face penalties up to 6% of its global annual turnover. Earlier in January, the Commission ordered X to preserve all Grok-related internal records through 2026 to aid investigations. xAI, Musk’s AI venture, has since limited Grok’s image-editing features amid global scrutiny.
