The European Commission said on Monday it was aware of reports that the platform’s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, had been used to generate and share images depicting undressed women and children. According to the Commission, such content violates European law and has no place within the region.
Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told reporters that X’s so-called “spicy mode,” which enables the generation of highly sexualised images, crosses clear legal boundaries. He stressed that the issue goes beyond offensive material, describing it as unlawful and unacceptable under EU standards.
In the United Kingdom, communications regulator Ofcom also stepped in, demanding urgent explanations from X on how the AI system was able to produce sexualised images of individuals, including minors, and whether the platform had failed to meet its legal duty to protect users. Ofcom said it had contacted both X and its AI affiliate, xAI, to assess what measures were in place to prevent the spread of illegal content.
Under UK law, the creation or distribution of non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material, including AI-generated content, is a criminal offence. Online platforms are also legally required to take proactive steps to prevent users from encountering such material and to remove it once identified.
X has not issued a formal response to the statements from European or British authorities. In previous comments to Reuters, the company dismissed media reports, while Musk has publicly downplayed the controversy on the platform.
The regulatory backlash is not limited to Europe. Authorities in France have reportedly referred X to prosecutors and regulators, describing the content as manifestly illegal, while officials in India have also sought explanations over what they termed obscene material on the platform.
The growing international response highlights increasing scrutiny of AI tools and the responsibilities of social media companies to prevent misuse, particularly where content involves exploitation and violations of fundamental rights.