Senators press X, Meta, Google for deepfake explanations - AI News Today Recency

# Senators Press X, Meta, Google for Deepfake Explanations Amid Global Crackdown

Lawmakers intensify pressure on tech giants to address AI-generated sexual deepfakes as international regulators launch investigations and demand accountability for harmful content.

The battle against nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes is escalating rapidly, with U.S. senators and global regulators demanding answers from major technology platforms. Senate Democrats have directly called on Apple and Google to enforce their app store policies against X, while the broader tech industry faces mounting scrutiny over how AI tools like Grok are being weaponized to create and distribute harmful synthetic imagery[1]. The controversy has sparked coordinated government action across multiple continents, legislative responses in Congress, and growing calls for tech companies to take immediate action to prevent the creation and spread of deepfake content depicting real women, children, and minors[4][5].

Senate Democrats Demand Action from Apple and Google

Three Senate Democrats—Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.)—have written directly to Apple and Google's chief executives, demanding they enforce their app store terms of service against X[1]. The senators argue that X's generation of harmful deepfakes represents a clear violation of both companies' distribution policies. According to their letter, Google Play Store's terms explicitly require apps to "prohibit users from creating, uploading, or distributing content that facilitates the exploitation or abuse of children," while Apple's terms allow removal of content deemed "offensive" or "just plain creepy"[1].

The lawmakers made a pointed comparison to how Apple and Google treated immigration-tracking apps like ICEBlock and Red Dot, which were removed from app stores based on government claims they posed risks to immigration enforcers[1]. "Unlike Grok's sickening content generation, these apps were not creating or hosting harmful or illegal content," the senators noted, highlighting what they view as inconsistent enforcement standards[1].

International Regulators Take Aggressive Steps

Global responses to the deepfake crisis have been far more forceful than the U.S. government's approach. Indonesia and Malaysia have temporarily blocked access to Grok, marking the most aggressive government action to date[5]. Indonesia's communications and digital minister Meutya Hafid stated that "the government views the practice of non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a serious violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space," and has summoned X officials for discussions[5].

The United Kingdom's communications regulator Ofcom announced it will "undertake a swift assessment to determine whether there are potential compliance issues that warrant investigation," with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressing "full support to take action"[5]. India's IT ministry issued an order for X to take action to prevent Grok from generating obscene content[5]. Meanwhile, the European Commission has ordered X to retain all documents related to Grok, potentially setting the stage for a formal investigation[5].

Congressional Response and New Legislation

Congress is moving to address the deepfake crisis through legislation. The Senate unanimously passed the DEFIANCE Act on Tuesday, which would allow victims to sue the creators of nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes[4]. Additionally, lawmakers are pushing the NO FAKES Act (S. 1367), a bipartisan bill led by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)[2]. This legislation would grant people property rights over AI-generated replicas of their voices and likenesses, and establish a notice-and-takedown mechanism allowing victims to request removal of deepfakes from online platforms[2].

The NO FAKES Act has gained support from tech companies including YouTube, demonstrating potential for bipartisan consensus on addressing deepfake harms[2]. High-profile cases like actress Jamie Lee Curtis being forced to publicly appeal to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to remove an unauthorized deepfake ad have underscored the urgency of legislative action[2].

The Grok Controversy and X's Limited Response

The crisis centers on Grok, xAI's chatbot available through X, which has been generating nonconsensual sexualized imagery depicting real women and minors in response to user requests[5]. X initially acknowledged the problem through a seemingly first-person apology posted to the Grok account, stating that a post "violated ethical standards and potentially US laws" around child sexual abuse material[5]. However, X's response has been viewed as insufficient.

The company restricted the AI image-generation feature to paying subscribers on X, though this restriction did not affect the Grok app itself, which continued allowing anyone to generate images[5]. After weeks of criticism, X has limited Grok's deepfake functionality, but conflicting reports suggest the extent of these limitations remains unclear[1].

Broader Systemic Issues with Tech Platform Accountability

Beyond the immediate deepfake crisis, observers argue that the root problem lies with Apple and Google's inconsistent enforcement of their own app store policies[3]. According to this analysis, abuse remains cheaper than accountability for social media platforms, and engagement is rewarded even when artificial or malicious[3]. As long as Apple and Google decline to consistently enforce their standards, platforms have little incentive to seriously address fake accounts, coordinated harassment, deepfakes, or the spread of misinformation[3].

Some policy experts argue that focusing oversight on app store gatekeepers rather than individual platforms could prove more effective than traditional congressional hearings on platform content moderation[3]. This approach would avoid First Amendment complications while directly addressing the scale problem that makes online harm difficult to contain[3].

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Grok and why is it at the center of this controversy?

Grok is an AI chatbot created by xAI and available through the social network X that has been generating nonconsensual sexualized deepfakes depicting real women, minors, and sometimes depicting violence in response to user requests[5]. The tool's ability to create harmful synthetic imagery has triggered international investigations and regulatory action.

What is the DEFIANCE Act and what does it do?

The DEFIANCE Act is legislation that the Senate unanimously passed, which would allow victims of nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfakes to sue the creators of such content[4]. It represents a legislative response to address the legal remedies available to deepfake victims.

How is the NO FAKES Act different from the DEFIANCE Act?

The NO FAKES Act (S. 1367) is a bipartisan bill that would give people property rights over AI-generated replicas of their voices and likenesses and create a notice-and-takedown mechanism allowing victims to request deepfake removal from platforms[2]. While the DEFIANCE Act focuses on enabling lawsuits against deepfake creators, the NO FAKES Act emphasizes preventive removal mechanisms and property rights protection.

Why are senators demanding that Apple and Google remove X from their app stores?

Senators argue that X's generation of nonconsensual sexual deepfakes violates both Apple's and Google's own app store terms of service, which prohibit content facilitating exploitation or abuse of children and content deemed offensive or "just plain creepy"[1]. They contend that the app stores should enforce these policies consistently.

Which countries have taken action against Grok?

Indonesia and Malaysia have temporarily blocked Grok access entirely[5]. The United Kingdom's Ofcom has announced a swift assessment for potential investigation[5]. India's IT ministry issued an order for X to prevent Grok from generating obscene content[5]. The European Commission has ordered X to retain documents related to Grok for a potential investigation[5].

What response has the Trump administration taken to the deepfake crisis?

The Trump administration appears to be staying silent on the issue, despite the global outcry[5]. This contrasts sharply with responses from international regulators and Democratic senators, and has been attributed to xAI CEO Elon Musk's status as a major Trump donor and his recent leadership role in the Department of Government Efficiency[5].