Cork MEP: “Wild West social media must end” as action urged on AI software Grok

Cork Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has declared that the ongoing issues with social media platform X’s AI software Grok and the undressing of women and minors online must result in action from the European Commission.

It recently emerged that the AI software tool Grok is widely being used to virtually undress images of people, using AI technology.

Mr Kelleher said that the undressing of women and minors by Elon Musk’s “latest invention” cannot be tolerated.

“Grok, one of Elon Musk’s latest inventions, has been used to produce suggestive images of minors, including a 14-year-old actress.

“The European Commission says it is looking into the matter, but for me and for my colleagues in Renew Europe, action is needed now,” the Cork MEP said.

Mr Kelleher added that the European Union already has the means to intervene.

“The commission can immediately launch formal proceedings against Grok for systemic failures to mitigate risks and protect minors, as set out in Articles 28, 34, and 35 of the Digital Services Act,” he said.

“It also has the power to temporarily suspend Grok while the investigation is ongoing.

“The days of social media being the wild west and being outside the reach of the law must come to an end.

“Our political leaders must grasp this issue once and for all. We have the power to act but it seems we don’t have the bravery to act.”

This week, Green Party councillor for Cork City North East Oliver Moran said he will no longer post on the X social media platform in protest to the Grok controversy.

Cork Labour senator Laura Harmon, a member of the Oireachtas committee on AI, added:

“Any technology or platform that facilitates the creation, amplification, or normalisation of this kind of material poses a profound threat to personal safety, human dignity, and the rule of law.”