Elon Musk Grok Deepfake Controversy: Global Crackdown Looms

Global regulators are closing in on Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok. Numerous reports have surfaced regarding the tool generating non-consensual, sexualized deepfakes, sparking a wave of investigations that could strip the X platform of its crucial legal protections.

Global Crackdown on Grok’s Synthetic Imagery

Authorities in France and Malaysia have joined India’s IT ministry in a growing movement against X’s AI capabilities. According to Politico, at least three French government ministers reported Grok to the Paris prosecutor's office, demanding the immediate removal of illegal content. Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Commission confirmed it's also investigating the misuse of AI tools on the platform.

India Issues 72-Hour Ultimatum to X

The pressure reached a boiling point in India. On January 2, 2026, the Indian IT ministry gave X a 72-hour deadline to address safety concerns. Per TechCrunch, failing to provide an action-taken report could lead to X losing its safe harbor status, making the company legally liable for every piece of content its users upload.

Musk’s Defense and the 'Safe Harbor' Threat

Elon Musk hasn't stayed silent. He responded on X, stating that anyone using Grok to create illegal content will face the same consequences as those who upload it. While xAI claims to be tightening safety guardrails, critics argue the system is fundamentally flawed, allowing users to easily bypass restrictions to create harmful imagery of celebrities and even minors.