An Irish data protection authority, on behalf of the European Union, opened an investigation on Tuesday into the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot “Grok” on the X platform, generating images of a sexual nature using deepfake technology, in the latest international move to prevent this tool. While European digital laws related to giant technology companies are a major focus of tension between the European Union and Washington since Donald Trump returned to power.
Published on: 02/17/2026 - 09:28
The Irish Data Protection Commission said on Tuesday that the investigation into the chatbot “Grok” on the X platform relates to possible violations of the “General Data Protection Rules” in the European Union.
She explained that allegations related to generating intimate or sexual images using this tool that “may be harmful and without consent and include European individuals, including children” will be examined and published on the platform.
“Generating sexual images of real people,” including “children.”
Since X's European operations are based in Ireland, the Data Protection Commission in that country is the main European regulator authorized to enforce cluster rules on the platform.
Deputy Data Protection Commissioner, Graham Doyle, said that the authority has been “communicating” with the
In response to the availability of deepfake technology to users, some countries announced last January the launch of investigations into Grok and increased regulatory rules, including banning him permanently.
The European Union has also opened its own investigation to find out whether the X platform has fulfilled its legal obligations under the bloc's Digital Services Law, which is designed to monitor internet giants.
Under the weight of criticism, X announced last month that it would limit the use of Grock for image generation to paid subscribers.
An attack on freedom of expression?
European digital laws related to giant technology companies are a major focus of tension between the European Union and Washington since Donald Trump returned to power. The Irish move comes despite the Trump administration’s threats of retaliation and its view of these laws as an attack on freedom of expression and an unfair targeting of American companies.
For its part, the Data Protection Commission announced that it had informed Elon Musk's social media network on Monday of opening an investigation. The X platform did not respond to calls from the French Press Agency on Monday evening.
It is noteworthy that the Irish regulatory authority had opened an investigation in April 2025 into the X platform’s use of some personal data to train its artificial intelligence models, especially the “Grok” model.
France 24/AFP
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