Inquiry into X’s AI ‘abuse images’
Ireland’s data protection watchdog has launched a major investigation into social media platform X following allegations that child sexual abuse material was generated and circulated on the site using artificial intelligence tools.
The Data Protection Commission (DPC) confirmed it has opened a “large-scale inquiry” concerning the apparent creation and publication of illegal content involving the processing of personal data belonging to EU and EEA users, including children.
The probe follows media reports that child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate images of adults were allegedly generated via the Grok AI tool and disseminated on the platform.
The DPC said its inquiry will focus specifically on content apparently created using AI functionality associated with the Grok large language model through the @Grok account on X.
The Irish regulator notified X Internet Unlimited Company (XIUC) of the investigation yesterday.
XIUC is the Irish-based entity responsible for X’s operations across the EU.
The DPC will assess whether the company has complied with its obligations under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), particularly in relation to the lawful processing of personal data and safeguards for vulnerable individuals.
Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said the watchdog has been engaging with XIUC for several weeks since reports first emerged suggesting users could prompt the @Grok account to generate sexualised images of real individuals, including minors.
“As the lead supervisory authority for XIUC across the EU/EEA, the DPC has commenced a large-scale inquiry which will examine XIUC’s compliance with some of their fundamental obligations under the GDPR in relation to the matters at hand,” Mr Doyle said.
Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., is the owner of X. Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Separately, the European Commission is also examining the social media company over allegations linked to AI-generated abuse material.
The development represents a significant escalation in regulatory scrutiny of AI tools integrated into major online platforms and highlights growing concern among European regulators about the data protection and safety implications of generative AI technologies.
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