THE HAGUE, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Dutch online abuse expertise center Offlimits and the independent civil society group Victim Support Fund announced on Thursday that they have initiated summary proceedings against the AI tool Grok on social media platform X.
The two organizations are seeking an immediate ban on the AI tool, alleging that it enables users to partially or fully undress individuals without their consent and to generate and distribute images depicting the sexual abuse of minors.
In a joint press release, Offlimits and the Victim Support Fund said the number of victims is growing at an alarming rate, and swift action is needed to prevent new victims.
Grok users can not only ask the chatbot questions, but also request the creation of fake nude or pornographic images based on photos posted online. According to the organizations, users can also generate images of scantily clad minors.
They cited research indicating that online sexual abuse can have consequences comparable to offline abuse, leading to feelings of shame, long-term psychological stress, and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts.
"Images edited or created with AI tools are being used to bully, humiliate, or sexually intimidate victims online. Moreover, the accessibility of these tools makes it possible to create and distribute such material on a large scale," said Robbert Hoving, CEO of Offlimits. "What we're seeing is a slow-motion accident, and it demands action."
The case is scheduled to be heard at the Amsterdam District Court on March 12, 2026.
Grok has faced increasing scrutiny recently. The European Commission opened a new formal investigation on Jan. 26 against X under the Digital Services Act and expanded an ongoing probe to assess the platform's compliance with EU rules. The Commission said the new investigation would examine whether X adequately assessed and mitigated risks associated with Grok's deployment in the EU, including risks linked to the spread of illegal content such as manipulated sexually explicit images, potentially including child sexual abuse material.
On Feb. 3, Britain's data protection regulator also opened formal investigations into X and X.AI, regarding their processing of personal data in connection with the Grok AI system and its potential to generate harmful sexualized image and video content. ■