Grok 'nudify' scandal: Data Protection Commission to investigate X over its AI app

The investigation comes in the wake of the outcry amid reports that the Grok AI tool on X was fulfilling requests from users to generate sexualised images, without consent, particularly of women and children. Picture: Riccardo Milani/Hans Lucas/AFP/Getty 

The Data Protection Commission has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk’s X, in a significant move following the Grok ‘nudify’ scandal.

“As the Lead Supervisory Authority for X Internet Unlimited Company across the EU/EEA, the DPC has commenced a large-scale inquiry which will examine its compliance with some of their fundamental obligations under the GDPR in relation to the matters at hand,” deputy commissioner Graham Doyle said.

Last month, there was a global outcry amid reports that the Grok artificial intelligence (AI) tool on the site formerly known as Twitter was fulfilling requests from users to generate sexualised images, without consent, of real people including children.

Charities in Ireland led calls for ‘nudification’ apps to be banned in its wake.

Facing regulatory fury on a range of fronts, X eventually said that it was limiting the ability to use Grok in jurisdictions “where such content is illegal".