Tensions between social network X and the EU continue unabated. On Monday 12 January, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, launched a full-scale attack on the social network’s AI, Grok, in response to the recent controversy surrounding the tool (see EUROPE 13783/11) and its misuse for pornographic purposes.
“I am appalled that a platform allows users to digitally undress women and children online”, she said in an interview with several media outlets, including Reuters and Italy’s Corriere Della Sera.
“This is inconceivable behaviour, and the damage caused by these deepfakes is very real”, she added. “We’re not going to outsource child protection and consent to Silicon Valley. If they don’t act, we will”, the President threatened.
The controversy surrounding Grok and the sexual content generated by the AI, without the consent of the users who were its victims, continues to provoke outrage in Europe. At this stage, however, the EU is not considering any concrete sanctions against X under the DSA, but has ordered it to retain all data from its artificial intelligence (see EUROPE 13782/7).
Some countries have decided to take unilateral action. France, like the UK, has opened an investigation, and Belgium says it is considering suspending the tool in the country. (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)