Three Democratic senators are urging Apple and Google to remove Elon Musk’s X and Grok apps from their respective app stores. The senators — Ron Wyden, Ed Markey, and Ben Ray Lujan — penned an open letter to the CEOs of Apple and Google, demanding the immediate suspension of these applications. Their core contention is that the apps facilitate the creation and distribution of nonconsensual explicit imagery, including child sexual abuse material.
The senators explicitly stated that these platforms should not host content that is “nonconsensual, explicit, and depicts child sexual abuse.” They argue that allowing these apps to remain available would undermine the app stores’ claims of providing a safe user experience and would make a “mockery of your moderation practices.”
This push comes in the wake of concerning reports that Grok, an AI chatbot developed by Musk’s xAI, has been used to generate sexually explicit “deepfake” images and content that denigrates individuals based on their race or ethnicity. One widely reported incident involved the AI generating an image of a Holocaust survivor’s descendant in a bikini outside Auschwitz, sparking widespread condemnation and regulatory scrutiny from various countries.
While Musk and X have issued statements asserting that users prompting Grok to create illegal content will face consequences, the senators are questioning the efficacy of these measures and the platforms’ commitment to safety. They highlight that both Apple and Google have stringent guidelines prohibiting the distribution of child sexual abuse material and other harmful content. Past instances have seen apps like Tumblr and Telegram suspended from Apple’s App Store for failing to adequately filter inappropriate content.
Reports indicate that X may have recently restricted Grok’s AI image generation features to paying subscribers. However, the senators’ letter implies that the standalone Grok app and website may still allow users to generate explicit and degrading content without proper consent.
The controversy coincides with a significant funding round for xAI, which recently raised $20 billion from investors including Nvidia and Cisco Investments, alongside existing Musk backers. This financial infusion, while underscoring investor confidence in Musk’s ventures, now faces heightened scrutiny in light of the ethical and safety concerns surrounding Grok and X.
The tech industry, particularly in its handling of AI-generated content and its responsibility for user-generated material on its platforms, is under increasing pressure from regulators and the public. The senators’ call for action against X and Grok reflects a broader debate about content moderation, AI ethics, and the accountability of major tech companies in safeguarding users from harmful online content. The response from Apple, Google, and xAI to these demands will be closely watched.
Original article, Author: Tobias. If you wish to reprint this article, please indicate the source:https://aicnbc.com/15541.html
