Belgian minister moves to act against X’s Grok chatbot
Belgium’s minister for Digitalisation, Vanessa Matz, has taken steps against Grok, the AI chatbot linked to social media platform X.
The move follows reports that Grok has been used to create sexual deepfake images from photos, including images of minors. The issue has already led to a criminal investigation in France, and the European Commission is also treating the case seriously.
Matz said the situation involves “unacceptable abuses” and has contacted the public prosecutor to check whether there are Belgian victims or ongoing investigations. She believes the facts could fall under criminal law and says Belgium’s revenge porn legislation applies.
The minister has also asked the telecoms regulator, BIPT, to alert the European Commission and stress the urgency of the matter. In parallel, she is examining whether Grok could be fully or partly suspended if X fails to meet its legal obligations.
“Innovation cannot be an excuse to abandon regulation,” Matz said. She added that she would not allow digital spaces or AI to become lawless zones.
© PHOTO JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP
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