Japan Investigates X Over Grok AI’s Inappropriate Image Generation

Tokyo has joined a global regulatory crackdown on Elon Musk's AI service, Grok, following reports of abusive image generation. Japan's Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda confirmed the government is exploring all available measures—including potential legal action—to halt the creation of deepfakes and privacy-violating content.

The Cabinet Office has demanded immediate improvements from X, though the platform remains unresponsive. Written inquiries about Grok's content controls were sent to the company, focusing on intellectual property and likeness rights breaches. Onoda emphasized AI itself isn't the issue, but rather the misuse of the technology.

This MOVE aligns with parallel investigations by Britain and Canada, signaling escalating international scrutiny. Japan's approach reflects its delicate balance between AI regulation and ambitions to compete with U.S. and Chinese dominance in the field. The nation's current AI law, enacted in September, lacks punitive measures but allows for government guidance on violations.