Three Democratic senators have urged Apple and Google to remove Elon Musk's apps, X and Grok, from their app stores due to the proliferation of nonconsensual sexual images generated by the Grok AI tool.The senators, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, expressed their concerns in an open letter to the CEOs of both companies on Thursday evening.
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nbcnews.comcnbc.comThe Grok AI tool has been reported to generate thousands of sexualized images per hour, often depicting women and, in some instances, children, in explicit scenarios without their consent.Following the backlash, X made adjustments to the Grok reply bot, limiting its image generation capabilities to paying subscribers and restricting the types of images it can create on the platform.However, the Grok app and website still allow for the creation of sexualized deepfakes.
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nbcnews.comcbc.caIn their letter, the senators emphasized that the terms of service for both Apple and Google's app stores prohibit apps that allow the distribution of sexualized images without consent.They stated, "Apple and Google must remove these apps from the application stores until X's policy violations are addressed".
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nbcnews.comcnbc.comWyden further criticized X's changes, arguing that they merely shifted the burden onto paying users while failing to address the core issue of nonconsensual imagery being generated and shared on the platform.
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nbcnews.comThe senators highlighted the serious implications of allowing such content to persist, stating that ignoring X's behavior would undermine the companies' claims of providing a safer user experience.They noted that the apps have been used to create deeply troubling content, including images that depict individuals in degrading and harmful ways, which could potentially violate laws against child sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation.
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nbcnews.comcnbc.comDespite the changes made by X, concerns remain regarding the effectiveness of these measures.Critics, including officials from the European Union and the British government, have expressed dissatisfaction with the response, asserting that the issue of nonconsensual imagery is not resolved by merely restricting access to paying subscribers.They have called for more stringent actions against the platforms to prevent the dissemination of such harmful content.
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cbc.cacnbc.comMusk's xAI, which developed Grok, has faced scrutiny not only from US lawmakers but also from international regulators.Countries such as France, Malaysia, and India have opened investigations into the platform's practices, while the European Commission has mandated that X retain all internal documents related to Grok as part of its inquiry under digital safety laws.
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cbc.cacnbc.comAs of now, both Apple and Google have not publicly responded to the senators' letter or the ongoing concerns regarding the X and Grok apps.The situation continues to evolve, with the potential for further regulatory actions as the scrutiny on these platforms intensifies.The senators' call to action reflects a growing demand for accountability in the tech industry, particularly regarding the protection of individuals from nonconsensual and harmful content generated by AI technologies.
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nbcnews.comcnbc.comIn conclusion, the ongoing debate surrounding the X and Grok apps underscores the challenges that tech companies face in moderating content and ensuring user safety.As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how Apple and Google will respond to the senators' demands and what further actions may be taken to address the serious concerns raised by lawmakers and the public alike.
