AI minister seeks urgent meeting with X over ‘disturbing’ Grok image feature

Niamh Smyth says Grok’s image-editing tool raises serious legal and child protection concerns under Irish and EU law

X’s AI chatbot Grok has come under scrutiny in recent days after the company launched a new image-editing tool last month. Picture: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg

Artificial intelligence (AI) minister Niamh Smyth has sought a meeting with X over its “disturbing and worrying” Grok feature, which can generate explicit images of women and children.

She emphasised that sharing intimate images without consent is illegal, as is the creation of child sexual abuse material.

X’s AI chatbot Grok has come under scrutiny in recent days after the company launched a new image-editing tool last month.

Users can request modifications to images, with some using the feature to remove clothing from real people. Concerns have intensified about the tool’s potential use in generating sexual abuse material, particularly involving children.

Ms Smyth said she has written to X seeking a meeting to discuss the measures it is taking to remain compliant with Irish law.

“The sharing of non-consensual intimate images is illegal, and the generation of child sexual abuse material is illegal,” she said.

“These are serious offences, both offline and online. The recent news surrounding Grok is both disturbing and worrying.

“In light of the recent controversies relating to Grok, I have written directly to X to request a meeting to discuss what steps the platform is taking to address these issues and to ensure compliance with Irish and EU law.

Artificial intelligence and digital transformation minister Niamh Smyth. File picture

“I have also been in contact with Coimisiún na Meán and with the Office of the Attorney General to seek updates on how this matter is being assessed from a legal and regulatory perspective.

“Under Ireland’s Online Safety Framework, there is a clear obligation on online platforms to act on reports of illegal content.

“I will continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders as this issue develops.” 

Ms Smyth said people should report concerns about images being shared to gardaí, as well as to the Irish national reporting centre, Hotline.ie.

She also encouraged people to report illegal content directly to the online platform and to Coimisiún na Meán.

Speaking on Tuesday, Tánaiste Simon Harris said the Government would update Irish laws if necessary to crack down on the creation and sharing of explicit images.

“At a time when AI is moving so quickly, it's absolutely right, prudent, and necessary that governments and the European Commission would continue to make sure that their legal framework is robust,” he said.

“If there is a need to make any further changes to our legal framework, that will be forthcoming. There are also laws of principle around consent as well, and how it interacts with our consent rules.”