Overview
- Ireland’s Data Protection Commission notified X on Monday that it has opened a formal inquiry into the creation and publication of non-consensual sexualized images, including those involving children, on the platform.
- The investigation targets Grok’s generative functionality via the @Grok account and will examine lawful basis, data-processing principles, privacy by design and default, and whether a data protection impact assessment was required.
- The case expands a broader enforcement drive that includes an EU Digital Services Act probe opened on January 26, U.K. ICO and Ofcom actions, and a French criminal investigation that featured Paris office raids and summons for Elon Musk.
- Rights groups reported roughly 3 million sexualized images generated over 11 days, including about 23,000 appearing to depict children, and researchers found some content persisted after X announced restrictions.
- X and xAI say they limited Grok’s image tools through paywalls, technical blocks, and geoblocking, yet reporters and analysts demonstrated continuing workarounds, and countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia temporarily blocked access to the chatbot.