I can’t recall when I quit Twitter. It was still Twitter at the time. It had descended into being quite the cesspit. So it comes as no surprise that image editing features has led to pressure on Irish authorities to take action. Grok AI was used to create sexually exploitative images, including of children.
Pressure Mounts Over Grok’s Image Editing Feature
Irish authorities are facing growing calls to intervene after reports that X’s AI assistant, Grok, has been used to generate and share sexually explicit images of women and children.
The concern centres on a recently introduced “edit image” feature within Grok, rolled out to users in late 2025. The tool allows people to request alterations to existing images. While image editing is not new, campaigners and academics say Grok is being actively used to remove clothing from real people, including minors, raising serious legal and ethical red flags.
Because X’s European, Middle East and Africa headquarters is based in Dublin, critics argue Ireland has both the authority and responsibility to act quickly.
Irish Law And Regulatory Oversight
Under legislation governing child sexual abuse material, any representation depicting or implying the sexual exploitation of a person under 18 is illegal. This includes computer generated images, simulated content and manipulated images, regardless of whether the original photo was innocent.
So if Grok is being prompted to generate sexualised images of minors, even through image manipulation, those images can be prosecuted under Ireland’s criminal justice system.
Ireland also introduced a binding Online Safety Code requiring video sharing platforms headquartered in the State to ban harmful content, including child sexual abuse material. Enforcement falls to Coimisiún na Meán, which has the power to investigate and sanction platforms that fail to meet their obligations.
Political And EU Level Reaction
The controversy has now reached the highest levels of Irish politics. Speaking while on a visit to China, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the use of AI to undress women and minors was unacceptable and potentially illegal.
He confirmed the issue would be raised with Coimisiún na Meán and said authorities must examine whether existing laws are already being breached. Protecting children and innocent people, he said, must remain the priority.
At European level, the reaction has been equally strong. European Commission spokesman for digital affairs Thomas Regnier described the content as illegal and appalling, stating clearly that it has no place in Europe.
This places additional pressure on Ireland, which plays a central role in regulating major tech platforms under EU digital law.
X Responds As Scrutiny Intensifies
In response, X said it takes action against illegal content, including child sexual abuse material, by removing it, suspending accounts and cooperating with law enforcement where necessary. The platform said that prompting Grok to create illegal content carries the same consequences as uploading such material directly.
Coimisiún na Meán confirmed it is engaging with the European Commission regarding Grok and its compliance with obligations placed on very large online platforms. These obligations include assessing and mitigating risks linked to illegal content and protecting fundamental rights, particularly those of minors.
The regulator also urged members of the public to report concerning images to An Garda Síochána, to Hotline.ie, to the platform involved and to Coimisiún na Meán itself.
But questions remain about just how much should we trust social media companies to manage this type of online issue. I’ve already shown how utterly awful TikTok has handled reports of abuse.
Why This Matters In Ireland
Ireland already has some of the strongest protections in Europe. The issue is now about whether those protections are applied decisively to emerging AI tools.
The Grok controversy highlights how quickly AI tools can be repurposed for harm, often faster than regulation can keep pace. With other countries moving towards outright bans on nudification technology, the next steps taken by Irish authorities will be closely watched across Europe.
Whether this leads to enforcement action, fines or new restrictions on AI image tools, one thing is clear. The tolerance for platforms shrugging off responsibility for how their technology is used is rapidly disappearing.
