A group of US senators called on companies Apple and Google to remove apps from their app stores X and Grok, which are operated by X Corp. The reason for this is recent incidents involving the mass creation of sexualized images of women and children without their consent using artificial intelligence. In a letter to the CEO AppHello Tim CookSenators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Lujan and Edward Markey are warning Google CEO Sundar Pichai that Grok's image generation has been misused to create images of women and children in bikinis and underwear. They call the practices harmful and likely illegal. Although X has reportedly restricted some of the image generation features for non-paying users, the tools remain available to subscribers in the standalone Grok app.
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Senators argue that such content violates the rules of both platforms. Rules App For example, the Store prohibits “offensive or patently inappropriate” content and explicitly disallows sexualized material, especially when it involves children or is created without the consent of the individuals depicted. Google has long had similar policies in its Play Store. The letter also criticizes the potential for the problem to be overlooked. According to the senators, inaction would Applu and Google undermine their claims that strict app oversight provides a safer environment for users than alternative ways of distributing apps. It would also weaken their position in ongoing political and legal disputes over regulation and competition in app stores. Lawmakers are demanding a written response by Jan. 23.
