Ireland escalates concern over AI-generated sexual images and deepfakes on Elon Musk’s X, prompting EU investigation and calls for stronger safeguards across member states.
Ireland’s concern over AI-generated sexual imagery and alleged deepfake child abuse material on Elon Musk’s X has escalated into formal scrutiny at the EU level and sharp criticism at home, after reports that the platform’s Grok chatbot could be used to create and distribute abusive images. According to reporting of EU action, the European Commission has opened an investigation under the Digital Services Act to assess whether X took adequate steps to prevent the spread of illegal content and to protect the rights of women and children.
The Irish minister with responsibility for artificial intelligence said she no longer trusts X following a parliamentary session in which she described the company’s public framing of the incident as “skewed” and questioned its emphasis on “bad actors” rather than the product’s design. The minister met X executives and, in a government statement, said the company informed her it had implemented corrective measures and disabled the capability to remove or reduce clothing on individuals worldwide. She welcomed the steps but sought guarantees the functionality would not be reintroduced.
Parliamentary figures pressed the minister over whether those promises were accurate. Members argued that the restrictions announced by X were not applied uniformly and detailed attempts to generate revealing images by changing access routes, suggesting that company statements and its public briefing may differ in scale and scope. The divergence between what X told national authorities and what users reported has intensified calls for verification and stronger interim safeguards while the Commission’s probe proceeds.
Independent experts advising the Irish Government have also urged caution and public education. The AI Advisory Council recommended a campaign to raise awareness that creating or sharing non-consensual intimate images, including those produced by AI, can be illegal and harmful, noting some users may not realise the severity or criminality of such acts. The council’s guidance aims to pair enforcement and regulation with prevention through information.
Separately, voices in Ireland have called for the country to use its EU presidency to push for EU-wide rules that would explicitly ban AI tools that enable the production of non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material. The minister has argued national law already criminalises the creation and dissemination of such images and urged coordinated action across the 27 member states, including consideration of interim measures to protect vulnerable people while investigations continue.
Regulators in Ireland and Brussels say they will work closely as the European Commission examines X’s compliance with the DSA and inspects the platform’s technical changes. The Commission’s investigation will determine whether the safeguards applied by X are sufficient and effectively enforced across jurisdictions, and whether the company undertook appropriate due diligence before deploying Grok’s capabilities. Until those findings are published, ministers and watchdogs have signalled a readiness to press for further action.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article references recent events, including the European Commission’s investigation into X’s AI chatbot Grok for generating non-consensual explicit images. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/c1a3039e5aaeb4dd517d995b8b301537?utm_source=openai)) The earliest known publication date of similar content is January 26, 2026, indicating the narrative is current. However, the article includes a link to a source from January 27, 2026, which may suggest the content is recycled.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Niamh Smyth, Ireland’s Minister for Artificial Intelligence. However, the earliest known usage of these quotes cannot be independently verified, raising concerns about their originality.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article originates from The Independent, a major news organisation. However, the source of the quotes from Niamh Smyth is unclear, as the article includes a link to a source from January 27, 2026, which may suggest the content is recycled.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the European Commission’s investigation into X’s AI chatbot Grok are plausible and align with recent reports. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/c1a3039e5aaeb4dd517d995b8b301537?utm_source=openai)) However, the article includes a link to a source from January 27, 2026, which may suggest the content is recycled.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents current information about the European Commission’s investigation into X’s AI chatbot Grok. However, concerns arise regarding the originality of the content, as the article includes a link to a source from January 27, 2026, which may suggest the content is recycled. Additionally, the earliest known usage of quotes from Niamh Smyth cannot be independently verified, raising questions about their authenticity. These issues necessitate further verification before publication.
