• European Commission investigates X over inappropriate and suspected content
• Inquiry also covers recommendation algorithms and user risk mitigation

The European Commission has launched an official investigation into Elon Musk’s X platform, following the production of inappropriate images and the sharing of content suspected of violating children’s rights through the AI feature Grok.

The commission said the probe, which began on Monday, also expands a previous audit of X’s recommendation systems and algorithms used to suggest content to users.

This move comes after an international outcry over the use of Grok to manipulate images of women and children in inappropriate ways, raising widespread concerns about the misuse of the technology.

According to researchers at the Center for Countering Digital Hate, Grok AI generated nearly 3 million inappropriate images in less than two weeks, including around 23,000 that appeared to involve children.

The commission stated that the new investigation will assess whether X took adequate measures to identify and mitigate risks within the European Union, particularly risks related to the sharing of illegal content, including manipulated inappropriate images and material that may constitute child abuse.

The probe is being carried out under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), a recent law designed to strengthen protections for internet users against various digital harms.

An EU official told reporters that the commission was not convinced by the measures X had announced to address these issues, noting that the investigation focuses on the effectiveness of the platform’s systems in reducing potential risks.

X responded by referring to a statement published on 14 January, reaffirming its commitment to making the platform a safe environment for all users.