Doherty calls for action on Musk AI system after AI-generated child abuse appears on Twitter

Fine Gael MEP Regina Doherty has written to EU Commissioner Henna Virkkunen, calling for urgent scrutiny following confirmed reports that Elon Musk’s AI system, Grok, integrated into Twitter, was used to generate sexually explicit images involving women and minors.

Describing the reports as “deeply disturbing and wholly unacceptable”, Doherty said the case raises serious questions about platform governance and compliance with existing EU digital rules.

“This is not a theoretical concern. This content was generated and circulated, it involves children, and it points to a profound failure of responsibility,” Doherty said. “When a system operating at scale enables the creation of sexual abuse material, it demands immediate investigation and accountability.”

In her letter, Doherty calls on the European Commission to examine whether the deployment of Grok on X warrants a formal EU investigation, including under the Digital Services Act and, where appropriate, the Digital Markets Act. She stresses that platforms operating in the EU have clear legal obligations to prevent the spread of illegal and harmful content.

“This case underlines the importance of robust enforcement of the rules we already have,” Doherty said. “The Digital Services Act sets out clear duties on risk mitigation, safeguards, and governance. Where those duties are not being met, the Commission must act.”

Doherty also urged Twitter to take immediate corrective measures, including addressing any functionality that enables abusive AI-generated content, strengthening safeguards, and fully cooperating with EU regulators.

 “Women’s dignity and children’s safety online are not optional,” she said. “They are legal requirements under EU law. When there are indications of systemic failure, those rules must be enforced decisively.”