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A group of US senators has urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok applications from their app stores. The demand follows the allegations that the chatbot mass generated nonconsensual sexualized images of women and children.
The chatbot, which is integrated into the X experience, has sparked outrage after people used its image editing powers to digitally create nude pictures of women and children.
Following mounting criticism of Grok's nonconsensual image production, the chatbot announced earlier this week that its image editing option will be restricted to paying users. However, the corporation has yet to establish whether this is indeed the case.
Three US senators, Ron Wyden, Ed Markey, and Ben Ray Luján, called Grok's image production "sickening" and urged the retailers to remove Grok and X apps from their platforms until X's policy violations are resolved.
‘We are writing to request that you enforce your app stores’ terms of service against X Corp's X and Grok applications for their widespread use of nonconsensual sexualized photographs of women and children.”
“X's generation of these harmful and likely illegal depictions of women and children has demonstrated complete disregard for your stores' distribution terms,” the senators wrote in an open letter. The lawmakers further claimed that X "encouraged" this behavior, stating that CEO Musk recognized the troubling trend with laugh-cry emoji reactions.
They also revealed that researchers just uncovered a Grok app repository, which is said to include approximately 100 photographs of possible child sexual assault material generated by the chatbot since August.
Also Read: EU Orders X to Preserve Grok AI Records Through 2026 Amid DSA Probe
“Ignoring X's heinous actions will undermine your moderating policies. Indeed, not taking action would undercut your public and legal assertions that your app stores provide a safer user experience than allowing customers to download apps directly to their phones.
This principle has been central to your opposition to legislative reforms aimed at increasing app store competition, as well as your arguments against allegations that your app shops misuse their market power through their payment methods,” they continued.
