By Micah Jonah
January 10, 2026
Three Democratic senators have urged Apple and Google to remove social media platform X and its built-in artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, from their app stores, citing the spread of nonconsensual sexual images involving women and minors.
In a formal letter made public on Friday, Senators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Luján and Edward Markey said the continued availability of the apps violates the content standards of both tech companies. They argued that the platforms should be suspended until X addresses what they described as serious, persistent policy breaches.
The lawmakers pointed to a surge in AI-generated images that depict women and children in sexualized or degrading scenarios, often without consent. They noted that Apple and Google have previously removed apps for far less serious violations, warned that failure to act now would undermine their credibility as gatekeepers of digital safety.
X, owned by Elon Musk, has come under mounting global scrutiny since Grok began producing and publicly sharing explicit images on the platform. While Musk’s AI company, xAI, has introduced limited restrictions on Grok’s image-editing features, critics say the changes are insufficient, merely shift access behind a paywall.
Despite the restrictions, users can still generate explicit images through Grok’s dedicated tab or its standalone app, raising questions about whether the measures meaningfully curb abuse. Regulators in Europe, Britain have also signaled possible enforcement action, including fines or service restrictions.
Senator Wyden accused Musk of profiting from harmful content, saying recent tweaks only require some users to pay for the ability to generate offensive material. Apple and Google have yet to publicly respond to the senators’ demands, while X has maintained that it takes action against illegal content on its platform.
The growing pressure highlights a broader debate over accountability in AI-driven platforms and the responsibility of app store operators to prevent the spread of abusive, unlawful content.
