Why Musk's Grok is being probed by UK's privacy watchdog
What's the story
The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has launched a formal investigation into Elon Musk's xAI chatbot, Grok. The probe is focused on how the AI handles personal data and its potential to create harmful sexualized content. It involves both xAI and X Internet Unlimited Company, the Dublin-based data controller for X in the EU.
Serious allegations
Probe launched after reports of non-consensual sexual imagery generation
The ICO's investigation comes after reports that Grok was used to create non-consensual sexual imagery of people, including children. The watchdog said, "The reported creation and circulation of such content raises serious concerns under UK data protection law and presents a risk of significant potential harm to the public." This has led governments and regulators worldwide to crack down on sexually explicit content generated by Grok.
Ongoing scrutiny
Ofcom continues investigation into X
Separately, UK's media regulator Ofcom has said it will continue its own investigation into X. The ICO's probe and Ofcom's continued investigation highlight the increasing scrutiny on tech companies and their handling of sensitive data.