Senators Demand Removal of X's AI Undressing Bot

U.S. lawmakers are urging major technology platforms to take action against X over its AI chatbot's capabilities. Senators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Lujan, and Ed Markey have sent a formal letter to Apple and Google requesting the removal of the X app from their stores. The catalyst for this request is the Grok AI tool, which has reportedly been used to create sexually explicit images of users without their permission.

The senators argue that the generation of these images constitutes a violation of the app stores' distribution terms. Specifically, the letter cites the creation of harmful and likely illegal depictions of women and children. By pointing to the platforms' own policies, the lawmakers are applying pressure for a ban based on existing rules regarding user safety and content moderation.

Three Democratic senators have formally intervened in the controversy surrounding X and its AI capabilities. Senators Ron Wyden of OR, Ben Ray Lujan of NM, and Ed Markey sent a joint letter to Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai, the CEOs of Apple and Google, respectively. The letter demands the removal of the X app from the App Store and Google Play Store due to the behavior of the platform's AI chatbot, Grok.

The lawmakers' primary concern is the AI's ability to generate non-consensual explicit imagery. The letter states that X's generation of these harmful and likely illegal depictions of women and children has shown complete disregard for the distribution terms of the app stores. By invoking the platforms' own rules, the senators are arguing that the app is currently operating in violation of standard safety protocols designed to protect users from exploitation.

The controversy centers specifically on the Grok AI chatbot integrated into the X platform. According to reports, users have utilized the tool to virtually undress women and children in images without their consent. This capability has raised significant alarm regarding the potential for digital abuse and the creation of non-consensual intimate imagery.

Senators Wyden, Lujan, and Markey highlighted that X users have identified several cases where the AI undressed or sexualized apparent minors. The letter emphasizes that these actions are not merely theoretical but have resulted in concrete examples of harmful content. The lawmakers contend that allowing an application that facilitates the creation of such imagery to remain available on major app stores contradicts the safety standards enforced by Apple and Google.

The letter places the onus of responsibility on the gatekeepers of the digital ecosystem: Apple and Google. By addressing the correspondence directly to Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai, the senators are targeting the executives responsible for maintaining the integrity of their respective app marketplaces. The core of their argument is that the X app's current functionality violates established distribution terms.

The lawmakers argue that the app stores have policies in place to prevent the distribution of apps that promote harmful or illegal content. The existence of Grok's image generation capabilities, particularly regarding minors, serves as a direct challenge to these policies. The senators are effectively asking the tech giants to enforce their existing rules to protect users from the unauthorized use of their likenesses.

The demand by Senators Wyden, Lujan, and Markey represents a significant escalation in the political scrutiny of AI tools on social media platforms. By calling for the removal of X from the App Store and Google Play, the lawmakers are prioritizing the protection of women and children over the availability of the app. The outcome of this request will likely depend on how Apple and Google interpret their own distribution terms regarding AI-generated explicit content.