Google and Apple under Pressure to Remove X and Grok from App Stores Over Child Abuse Content.
A coalition of nearly 30 advocacy groups has urged Google and Apple to remove social media platform X and its AI app, Grok, from their app stores due to allegations that the latter allowed users to generate images of minors in revealing clothing. The organizations claim that these actions violate the technology companies' policies on child safety and online abuse.
The groups sent letters to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, demanding immediate removal of Grok and X from their stores to prevent further exploitation and abuse. However, neither Google nor Apple has responded to the requests for comment at the time of writing.
Grok, developed by xAI, recently updated its safety measures to "geoblock" users from generating images of real people in bikinis, underwear, or similar attire in jurisdictions where such content is illegal. The tool will also be restricted to paid subscribers only.
Elon Musk, X's owner and xAI's founder, has denied any knowledge of naked underage images generated by Grok, stating that the chatbot declines prompts to create illegal images. However, criticism of Grok escalated after it enabled users to create images of minors wearing minimal clothing, prompting a response from Copyleaks, which detected thousands of sexually explicit images created by the app.
The Internet Watch Foundation has expressed concerns about Grok and other AI tools, warning that they risk bringing child sexual abuse material into the mainstream. California's Attorney General Rob Bonta has launched an investigation into xAI after reports detailing non-consensual, sexually explicit material generated using Grok.
The European Commission is also monitoring X's actions to prevent Grok from generating inappropriate images of children and women. The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has raised the possibility of banning X in Britain due to its generation of sexualized images without consent.
XAI has taken steps to improve safety measures, but critics argue that more needs to be done to address the issue.
A coalition of nearly 30 advocacy groups has urged Google and Apple to remove social media platform X and its AI app, Grok, from their app stores due to allegations that the latter allowed users to generate images of minors in revealing clothing. The organizations claim that these actions violate the technology companies' policies on child safety and online abuse.
The groups sent letters to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, demanding immediate removal of Grok and X from their stores to prevent further exploitation and abuse. However, neither Google nor Apple has responded to the requests for comment at the time of writing.
Grok, developed by xAI, recently updated its safety measures to "geoblock" users from generating images of real people in bikinis, underwear, or similar attire in jurisdictions where such content is illegal. The tool will also be restricted to paid subscribers only.
Elon Musk, X's owner and xAI's founder, has denied any knowledge of naked underage images generated by Grok, stating that the chatbot declines prompts to create illegal images. However, criticism of Grok escalated after it enabled users to create images of minors wearing minimal clothing, prompting a response from Copyleaks, which detected thousands of sexually explicit images created by the app.
The Internet Watch Foundation has expressed concerns about Grok and other AI tools, warning that they risk bringing child sexual abuse material into the mainstream. California's Attorney General Rob Bonta has launched an investigation into xAI after reports detailing non-consensual, sexually explicit material generated using Grok.
The European Commission is also monitoring X's actions to prevent Grok from generating inappropriate images of children and women. The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has raised the possibility of banning X in Britain due to its generation of sexualized images without consent.
XAI has taken steps to improve safety measures, but critics argue that more needs to be done to address the issue.
just don't get why people are so careless with AI tools 
like, we already have enough issues on the internet... and now this? 
think they're doing it to help, but really they're just creating a whole new level of problems for kids and adults alike 
need to do better, you know? 
tech companies gotta step up their game when it comes to safety measures 
can't have AI tools running around causing more harm than good 
... wait, no way! I mean, I don't think it's that simple 
... er, actually, yeah, maybe they should just remove them to be safe 
That would be so cool! 
On the other hand, how can you trust a chatbot not to make bad decisions? 
...
. I mean i get that these tools are supposed to help with education and stuff, but come on, they're basically just creating more ways for pedos to get their hands on explicit content 
. why can't google and apple just take responsibility here? 
and I'm still reeling from seeing a family of deer up close 
. Their coats were so soft and shiny, it was like they were wearing their own personal fur coats 
. Anyway, back to X and Grok... have you guys ever tried that new coffee shop downtown? The cold brew is out of this world 
️!
. I mean, AI is supposed to make our lives easier, not exploit kids 
. We can't just sit back and let these platforms become breeding grounds for child abuse content 
The fact that some people are willing to turn a blind eye or profit from this is just wrong 
.
I mean, can you believe these tech giants are still dragging their feet? Like, come on, Google and Apple, get your acts together! They're basically saying "oh no, users might make some bad stuff" 
. We need more transparency and accountability from these tech giants, and we need it now! 
. anyway, let's hope that google and apple will take responsibility and do what's right here 
these companies are all about the benjamins and don't care who gets hurt in the process 
it's outrageous that elon musk is denying any knowledge of naked underage images generated by grok 
like, come on dude, you can't just sweep this under the rug 
the internet watch foundation is right, these ai tools are a ticking time bomb 
we need to hold tech companies accountable for their role in spreading child abuse content 
gotta keep pushing for these companies to step up their game on child safety and online abuse... gotta wonder if they're doing enough already 
. I've been using Google and Apple for years, and I always thought they had the best of intentions when it came to keeping us safe online 
. But this X and Grok situation has got me worried - what's next? Are these companies gonna just sit back and let a kid get exploited because of some rogue AI app? No way! They gotta step up their game and make sure these apps are safe for everyone 
. If AI tools are gonna be used to generate that kind of content, it's only a matter of time before it ends up in the wrong hands. We need stricter regulations on this stuff ASAP 
.
No thanks.
. We need to protect our kids from exploitation and online abuse, not make it easier for them to stumble upon it by the backdoor. XAI needs to step up their safety measures, pronto!