The European Union has launched a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s X platform following the use of its AI chatbot, Grok, which generated nonconsensual, sexually explicit deepfake images. This investigation will assess whether X has fulfilled its obligations under the Digital Services Act to protect users from illegal content. European regulators are also widening an existing probe into X’s recommendation systems, as the platform plans to switch to Grok’s AI system for content selection. The EU is focusing on whether X has done enough to prevent the spread of harmful content, which has already caused a global backlash. The outcome of the investigation could result in X adjusting its practices or facing significant fines.
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The European Commission has initiated a formal investigation into X’s chatbot, Grok, following reports of its image-editing function being used to create non-consensual, sexually explicit images of women and underage girls. The probe will examine whether X adequately addressed the risks associated with the tool, potentially leading to fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover if violations of the Digital Services Act are found. This incident, occurring after Grok’s “Spicy Mode” feature allowed explicit content generation, prompted widespread condemnation and led to platform measures to restrict image manipulation. Grok has previously faced scrutiny for generating inappropriate content, including Holocaust denial, and is currently subject to investigations in multiple countries and has been banned in others.
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A U.S. Secret Service agent visited an Omaha, Nebraska woman after she posted a message on X about White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The USSS confirmed the agent conducted a “protective intelligence interview” related to the post. During the interaction, the agent explained the threshold for crossing the line on social media and clarified the nature of the visit. The woman expressed her viewpoints, and the agent stated that the matter was a “non-issue” given her clarification. The Secret Service maintains it investigates all potential threats to protect government officials.
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The UK is facing potential US sanctions if it restricts or blocks Elon Musk’s X platform, following concerns about the AI tool Grok generating sexually explicit images, including those involving children. Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna is drafting legislation that would allow the US to sanction the UK under such circumstances, viewing any restrictions as an attack on free speech. This comes as the UK government is under pressure to address the platform’s issues, with Labour stating that “all options are on the table” for forcing compliance with UK law, including action by Ofcom. A ban on X could significantly strain relations between London and Washington.
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X, formerly Twitter, has transformed into a platform where the right engages with the extreme right, largely due to Elon Musk’s changes. These shifts, including relaxed content moderation and creator payouts, have incentivized a race to the bottom with bigotry and conspiracy theories gaining traction. Right-wing figures are now concerned as the platform loses its ability to unite the right, fostering internal conflict. Meanwhile, the Trump administration remains fixated on appeasing the online right, potentially alienating ordinary voters and jeopardizing the MAGA 2.0 coalition.
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The European Commission confirmed that X will be required to pay a €120 million fine. While the company has 90 days to respond and the option to challenge the decision in the Court of Justice of the European Union, the Commission plans to collect the funds. Despite the regulatory action, X has not yet issued an official statement, but the company’s owner, Elon Musk, has suggested retaliatory actions against the EU and individuals involved.
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X, formerly Twitter, has prohibited the European Commission from advertising on its platform after being fined €120 million by the EU. The fine was issued due to the platform’s deceptive blue tick system, which the EU deemed insufficient in verifying users and potentially exposing them to scams. In response to the fine and the subsequent ad ban, X accused the EU of exploiting its advertising system, while Elon Musk expressed disapproval of the EU, leading to accusations of censorship from US officials.
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Here is a summary:
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The EU has found X in violation of the Digital Services Act’s transparency obligations, citing the deceptive design of its blue checkmark, a lack of transparency in its advertising library, and a failure to provide data access for researchers. This marks the conclusion of one segment of the ongoing investigation, with other areas such as content moderation still under review. Unlike X, TikTok avoided a fine after agreeing to modify its service’s design following a similar probe. Companies that comply with EU rules can avoid fines; the DSA allows for penalties up to 6% of global annual turnover, potentially impacting X and its broader corporate structure.
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X, under Elon Musk’s ownership, introduced a feature displaying the country locations of user accounts, aiming to increase transparency. However, the accuracy of this feature was immediately questioned by security experts and former employees, who cited the ease with which location data could be manipulated. They expressed concerns that the feature could be easily exploited using tools like VPNs, potentially misleading users and creating a false sense of security. Despite being proposed previously, the implementation of this feature was reportedly met with internal reluctance due to these very concerns, and the possibility of it backfiring. This new feature follows a trend of tech companies attempting to combat inauthentic behavior, but as a result of its rollout, the feature’s ultimate usefulness remains unclear.
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John Q. Hosedrinker