Grok is currently at the center of a political controversy in the US. Several US senators have officially called on Apple and Google to remove the apps X and Grok from their app stores. The accusation is serious: Grok's AI functions are alleged to have been used to create masses of non-consensual sexualized images of women and children. The case raises fundamental questions about the responsibility of AI providers, platform operators, and app store companies.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being integrated into social networks, reaching a very large audience. Grok is an example of how powerful, but also how susceptible to misuse, such systems can be. As soon as AI tools are used to generate harmful or potentially illegal content, not only the developers but also the distribution platforms come under pressure. This is precisely the point of contention raised by the current criticism from US senators.
The letter from US senators to Apple and Google
In a joint letter, US Senators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Luján, and Edward Markey have called on Apple and Google to remove the apps X and Grok from their app stores. The letter is addressed directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
The senators justify their demand with incidents in which Grok was allegedly used to create mass copies of non-consensual sexualized images of women and children. In their assessment, these are harmful and illegal depictions that clearly violate app store guidelines.
Criticism of Grok and the role of X
X came under increasing criticism last week after reports surfaced that Grok's AI image generation capabilities were being used to create images of women and children in bikinis or underwear. This content was apparently created without the consent of the individuals depicted.
In response, X partially restricted the use of Grok's image generation feature. Non-paying users can no longer generate images as replies to posts on X. According to The Verge, however, the tools remain available to paying subscribers. Images can still be generated via the dedicated Grok section within X and through the standalone Grok app.
From the senators' perspective, these measures are insufficient. They continue to see a high risk of misuse and therefore demand decisive action from app store operators.
Violations of the App Store guidelines
The senators explicitly refer to the terms of service of Apple and Google. Apple's guidelines prohibit apps with offensive or simply disturbing content. By any common definition, non-consensually created sexualized images of women and especially children fall into this category.
Furthermore, Apple explicitly prohibits apps with overtly sexual or pornographic content. This includes material intended to evoke erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional responses. The senators argue that the images generated by Grok violate precisely these rules.
Doubts about the moderation practices of Apple and Google
In their letter, the senators sharply criticize the moderation practices of both companies. If Apple and Google fail to act in such a serious case, they will undermine their own claims regarding the security of their app stores.
Both companies have argued for years that their app stores offer a safer user experience than downloading apps directly from the internet. This argument has been central to their opposition to legislative reforms aimed at increasing competition in the app store sector. It has also played a key role in their defense against accusations that they abuse their market power through their proprietary payment systems. According to the senators, inaction undermines these positions.
Deadline for a statement
Senators have asked Apple and Google to respond in writing to the letter. The deadline is January 23. By then, the companies are expected to explain how they intend to address the allegations and what measures they plan to take.
Unclear consequences for X and Grok
The Grok case demonstrates how quickly AI systems can become a serious problem if their use is not adequately regulated. The demands of the US senators significantly increase the pressure on Apple and Google. Whether X and Grok will actually be removed from the app stores remains to be seen. However, it is clear that Grok and similar AI offerings will be subject to closer scrutiny in the future, and the responsibility of major platforms will be brought even more into focus. (Image: Shutterstock / Primakov)
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