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X blocks Grok from generating sexualized deepfakes after backlash

Left 79% Center coverage: 14 sources Right
United States
January 15, 2026 (Updated: January 21, 2026) 2 Center Negative I use tech gadgets
X blocks Grok from generating sexualized deepfakes after backlash

TheWkly Analysis

About a week after Grok, the AI chatbot owned by Elon Musk’s xAI, drew heavy criticism for generating nonconsensual, sexualized images of real people (including Taylor Swift), the company said yesterday that it is restricting Grok’s ability to create such images, but only in jurisdictions where they are illegal. The New York Times reports that the restrictions appear to apply only to Grok on X, not on its standalone website or app. Multiple authorities have been investigating the X platform and Grok. Several countries (including Canada) and US states (including California) have opened investigations to determine if the company violated laws against nonconsensual deepfakes.

Multiple perspectives analyzed from 14 sources
What this means for you:
Platform rules may change quickly as legal pressure grows around nonconsensual synthetic content.
Enforcement may differ by product and country, so what’s blocked in one place might remain available elsewhere.
Developers of generative tools could face rising compliance and moderation costs, especially where laws differ by jurisdiction.
Public incidents like this can accelerate broader regulation of AI image generation and platform accountability.

Key Entities

  • Grok - AI chatbot referenced in the controversy
  • xAI - Company developing Grok
  • X platform - Social media service where Grok is integrated
  • Elon Musk - Owner of xAI and prominent figure linked to Grok
  • Nonconsensual deepfakes - Unauthorized sexualized synthetic images of real people
  • Taylor Swift - Public figure referenced in reports about generated images
  • New York Times - Outlet reporting on the scope of restrictions
  • Canada - Country whose authorities opened an investigation, per reporting
  • California - U.S. state whose authorities opened an investigation, per reporting
  • Jurisdiction-based restrictions - Policy approach limiting features where illegal

Bias Distribution

14 sources
Left: 21% (3 sources)
Center: 79% (11 sources)
Right: 0% (0 sources)

Multi-Perspective Analysis

Left-Leaning View

Emphasizes harm to victims and calls for stronger regulation.

Centrist View

Focuses on what restrictions were added and where they apply.

Right-Leaning View

Highlights free-speech tensions and questions government overreach.

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