Democratic Senators Urge Apple and Google to Suspend Grok and X Apps

Washington: Three Democratic senators have called on Apple and Google to suspend X and Grok from their app stores, citing concerns that the platforms allow users to create and share explicit and illegal content.

In a letter sent Friday to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico urged the companies to remove the apps until owner Elon Musk takes steps to prevent the creation and spread of nonconsensual sexual images and depictions involving minors.

The senators said allowing the apps to remain available would undermine Apple’s and Google’s claims that their app stores provide safer user environments.

Content concerns raised

The letter follows reports that users have been able to generate and widely share sexualized “deepfake” images through Grok, the AI chatbot developed by xAI, which also owns X.

According to the senators, the tools have been used to create explicit images of people without their consent, including content involving minors. Grok has also been criticised for generating images that demean individuals based on race or ethnicity.

Recent media reports highlighted cases where individuals were digitally altered into sexualised images without permission after prompts were entered into Grok.

Company responses

xAI responded to a request for comment with an automated reply. Apple and Google did not immediately respond.

Earlier this month, X and Musk said users who create illegal content using Grok would face the same consequences as those who upload such material directly to the platform.

Apple and Google both maintain app store policies that prohibit content involving child sexual abuse and other harmful or explicit material.

Regulatory pressure grows

The controversy has prompted scrutiny from regulators in several countries, including parts of Europe, Malaysia, Australia and India. U.S. agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice have not yet announced any investigations.

On Friday, X limited Grok’s image-generation features to paying subscribers. However, Grok’s standalone app and website reportedly continued to allow users to generate sexualised images without consent.

CNN reported that recent changes to Grok were made at Musk’s direction and that several members of xAI’s safety team resigned following those decisions.

Funding announcement

Despite the backlash, xAI said this week it raised $20 billion in a funding round involving investors including Nvidia and Cisco Investments, along with several institutional backers from the United States and the Middle East.