EU Opens New Investigation Into X Over Grok

Regulators are examining whether Grok contributed to the spread of illegal and harmful content, including sexual deepfakes.

A screen displays examples of artificial intelligence prompt-created videos, made with xAI’s Grok app, in London on Jan. 12, 2026. Leon Neal/Getty Images

The European Commission (EC) on Jan. 26 opened a new formal investigation into Elon Musk’s X, stepping up scrutiny of the platform’s artificial intelligence tool Grok over concerns that it was used to create sexualized images of real people.

The probe aims to examine whether X properly assessed and reduced the risks associated with the rollout of Grok’s features on its platform in the European Union.

The EU’s executive branch said those risks include the spread of illegal content, such as manipulated sexually explicit images, including material that could amount to child sexual abuse content.

“Sexual deepfakes of women and children are a violent, unacceptable form of degradation,” said the EC’s tech sovereignty chief, Henna Virkkunen.

“With this investigation, we will determine whether X has met its legal obligations under the DSA, or whether it treated rights of European citizens—including those of women and children—as collateral damage of its service.”

The move comes as several authorities around the world have either blocked the platform or opened investigations into its use of content generated by artificial intelligence. Countries that have taken action include Malaysia, Indonesia, the UK, and Canada. On Jan. 16, Japan asked X to take steps to prevent the alteration and sexualization of images using Grok.

EU Law

The move is the latest enforcement action under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), the law aimed at reining in the power of large online platforms and forcing them to better police harmful and illegal content.

Under the DSA, X is classified as a “very large online platform,” a designation that subjects it to stricter obligations than smaller services. This includes assessing and mitigating risks such as the spread of illegal content and risks to minors.

The EC said it will look at whether X fulfilled its legal duties under the DSA, including regarding risks related to gender-based violence and harm to users’ physical and mental well-being.

The EC is also assessing whether X carried out an ad hoc risk assessment for Grok before deploying features that had a significant effect on the platform’s overall risk profile, as required by EU law.

X Action

Musk previously addressed the issue of generating illegal material in a Jan. 3 post on X, writing, “Anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.”

The following day, 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.”

Before the EC’s announcement, Musk posted a side-by-side image on X on Jan. 26, contrasting two beach scenes. One panel shows beachgoers in swimwear under the label “GROK 2025,” while the other, labeled “GROK 2026 (RIP),” portrays figures in full-length robes and face coverings occupying the same space.

Musk wrote in the post, “It’s so hard to get the moderation just right.”

Steps Ahead

The EC said it would continue to gather evidence in the coming months. If it finds that X has failed to make meaningful changes to its service, it may also impose interim measures, it said.

Opening formal proceedings allows the EC to take enforcement action, including issuing a noncompliance decision. Regulators may also accept X’s commitments to address the issues under investigation.

Once formal proceedings are opened, national regulators in EU member states are relieved of their powers to supervise and enforce the DSA for suspected infringements.

In preparing the new investigation, the EC said it worked closely with Coimisiun na Mean, Ireland’s media and digital regulator, which acts as the national Digital Services Coordinator for X because the company is established in Ireland for EU regulatory purposes.

Earlier Probe

The new investigation builds on the EC’s formal proceedings opened on Dec. 18, 2023.

That earlier case focused on X’s notice-and-action mechanisms, its measures to counter illegal content, such as terrorist material, and the risks associated with its recommender systems.

The December 2023 proceedings also examined deceptive design practices, advertising transparency, and researchers’ access to data.

On Dec. 5, 2025, the EC adopted a noncompliance decision in that case, fining X 120 million euros ($142 million) for breaches related to advertising transparency and researcher access.

On Sept. 19, 2025, the EC also sent X a formal request for information concerning Grok. That request included questions about alleged anti-Semitic content generated by the @grok account earlier in 2025.