KUALA LUMPUR – Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok is at the centre of a rapidly escalating global controversy, igniting fresh debates about AI safety, digital privacy and regulatory oversight just days into 2026.
The latest uproar stems from revelations that Grok’s image-generation feature — integrated into Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) — allowed users to generate highly sexualised and non-consensual images of women and, in some cases, minors, by altering publicly posted photos. The issue has prompted formal government scrutiny and bipartisan condemnation across continents. (Reuters)
Regulators and Governments Step In
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a stern notice to X, warning that failure to act could trigger legal consequences under national digital safety and criminal statutes. The notice specifically cited “obscene, sexually explicit and derogatory content” involving women and children circulating on the platform via Grok-generated images, flagging it as a grave violation of dignity and privacy. (The Hans India)
Similarly, India’s IT ministry has given X a 72-hour ultimatum to take down the objectionable material and explain safeguards, underscoring rising global concern over AI misuse. French officials have also reportedly filed criminal complaints with prosecutors, describing Grok’s output as “manifestly illegal” under European digital content laws. (Analytics Insight)
Victims and Public Outrage
The backlash has moved beyond abstract policy debates into personal trauma. At least one woman recounted how a fully-clothed photo she posted online was digitally altered into revealing attire by Grok and widely shared, a pattern repeated in numerous instances uncovered by international news agencies. Experts argue that these incidents were predictable and could have been mitigated with stronger guardrails, while victims describe feelings of violation and helplessness. (Reuters)
Musk’s Response and xAI’s Position
Despite mounting pressure, Elon Musk’s public response has drawn criticism. On X, Musk reportedly downplayed parts of the controversy, even making light of the broader ethical concerns — a tone that has frustrated regulators and civil society groups alike.
xAI, the company behind Grok, acknowledged “safeguard lapses” and pledged ongoing improvements to block harmful image requests, saying that inadvertent generation of inappropriate images was limited but unacceptable. However, the company has also dismissed some media reporting as “Legacy Media Lies,” intensifying accusations of a dismissive stance toward accountability. (Reuters)
Wider Implications for AI Ethics
The Grok saga underscores growing global anxiety about generative AI tools that operate at scale without robust consent and privacy protections. Critics warn that non-consensual deepfake creation — particularly involving minors — could fuel new forms of online abuse and legal liability for platforms that host such technology.
Lawyers and digital rights advocates are calling for clearer international standards to govern AI image-generation, while policy makers in India, Europe and North America weigh potential enforcement actions. Against this backdrop, advertisers and investors are reportedly reassessing risk exposure tied to association with platforms linked to harmful AI outputs. (Times Square Chronicles)
What’s Next
As governments demand swift action and civil liberties groups escalate pressure, all eyes are on how Musk’s X and xAI will respond — whether through technical fixes, tougher content moderation policy, or deeper engagement with regulators. With AI tools now embedded in everyday social media use, the Grok controversy may well shape the next wave of digital safety regulation worldwide.
This article will be updated as the story develops.
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