UK, EU Demand Answers From X Over Reports Grok Generated Explicit, Child-Like Images

Malaysian authorities are also investigating the platform, specifically in relation to the digital manipulation of images of children.

Victoria Friedman

Published: 1/6/2026, 4:33:59 PM EST

UK, EU Demand Answers From X Over Reports Grok Generated Explicit, Child-Like Images — xAI and Grok logos in a illustration photo taken on Feb. 16, 2025. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Authorities in the UK and the European Union are calling for answers from X and xAI after reports that the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Grok has been used to generate sexually explicit images, including images that appear to depict minors.

Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, said in a Jan. 5 social media post that it was aware of "serious concerns raised about a feature on Grok on X that produces undressed images of people and sexualised images of children."

The regulator said it had made urgent contact with X and xAI, Elon Musk's AI company, "to understand what steps they have taken to comply with their legal duties to protect users in the UK."

“Based on their response we will undertake a swift assessment to determine whether there are potential compliance issues that warrant investigation,” the statement said.

Thomas Regnier, a spokesman for the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, told reporters during a press briefing that it was "very seriously looking into this matter."

"We are very well aware of the fact that [Grok] is now offering a ‘spicy mode’ showing explicit sexual content with some output generated with childlike images. This is not spicy. This is illegal. This is appalling. This is disgusting,” Regnier said.

The Epoch Times contacted xAI for comment, but the company did not respond beyond an automated reply by publication time.

Action Against Illegal Content

Musk previously addressed the issue of generating illegal material in a Jan. 3 post on X.

"Anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content," he said.

On Jan. 4, X's Safety unit quoted Musk's post, stating, "We take action against illegal content on X, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), by removing it, permanently suspending accounts, and working with local governments and law enforcement as necessary."

Illustration of the generative AI chatbot Grok in an undated file photograph. (Riccardo Milani/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images) — Illustration of the generative AI chatbot Grok in an undated file photograph. Riccardo Milani/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images

The account reiterated Musk's position that anyone using Grok to make illegal content will face the same consequences as if they had uploaded illegal content.

It then directed users to links detailing X's rules and enforcement options.

On Dec. 5, the European Commission fined X 120 million euros ($140 million), on grounds that the social media platform breached several transparency obligations under the EU's Digital Services Act.

The move prompted criticism from top U.S. officials, including from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said in a post on the social media platform that the fine is not “just an attack on @X, it’s an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments.”

Malaysia Probe

The remarks from British and EU authorities follow the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announcing on Jan. 3 that it was initiating an investigation into alleged online harms on X, specifically in relation to the "digital manipulation of images of women and minors to produce indecent, grossly offensive, or otherwise harmful content."

The MCMC said in a statement that under the terms of Malaysia's Online Safety Act, "licensed online platforms and service providers" are required to take action to stop the spreading of harmful content, including indecent content and images of child sexual abuse.

The commission said that while X is not a licensed platform, "it has the duty to prevent dissemination of harmful content on its platform."

"MCMC is presently investigating the online harms of X, and will call in their representatives," the commission said. "MCMC urges all platforms accessible in Malaysia to implement safeguards aligned with Malaysian laws and online safety standards, especially in relation to their AI-powered features, chatbots and image manipulation tools."

From The Epoch Times