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U.S. Democrats Urge Apple and Google to Remove X and Grok Over Sexualised AI Images

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Three Democratic U.S. 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 non-consensual sexual images of women and minors.

In a letter published on Friday, Senators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Lujan and Edward Markey said the two tech giants “must remove these apps from the app stores until X’s policy violations are addressed.” The letter argues that the continued availability of the apps undermines Apple’s and Google’s own app store rules prohibiting sexual or pornographic material and content that facilitates the exploitation or abuse of children.

X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has faced growing global scrutiny after Grok generated AI-created images depicting women and children in sexualised or degrading contexts without consent. The senators noted that both Apple and Google have previously acted quickly to remove apps found to be in violation of similar standards.

“Turning a blind eye to X’s egregious behavior would make a mockery of your moderation practices,” the lawmakers wrote.

Apple and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment. X referred to an earlier statement saying it takes action against illegal content, including child sexual abuse material. X’s parent company, xAI, did not directly address the senators’ demands, reiterating only that criticism of the platform amounted to “legacy media lies.”

The pressure comes as regulators in several countries intensify scrutiny of X and Grok. In Britain, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said she expected media regulator Ofcom to take action within days if the platform fails to comply with online safety rules.

While xAI has introduced some limits on Grok’s image generation for non-paying users, critics argue the measures are insufficient. Senator Wyden said the changes merely force some users to pay to create harmful images, while the platform continues to profit from abusive content.

Big Tech to Avoid Strict Obligations in EU Digital Rules Overhaul, Sources Say

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Major U.S. technology companies including Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Netflix, Microsoft and Amazon are set to avoid strict new regulatory obligations under the European Union’s upcoming overhaul of digital rules, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Despite strong lobbying from telecoms companies for tougher measures targeting Big Tech, the companies will instead fall under a voluntary framework as part of the planned Digital Networks Act (DNA), the sources said. The European Commission has declined to comment.

The DNA, which will be presented by EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen on January 20, is aimed at boosting Europe’s competitiveness and encouraging greater investment in telecoms infrastructure. The proposal will still need approval from EU member states and the European Parliament before it can become law.

Under the draft rules, Big Tech firms will be encouraged to cooperate voluntarily with telecoms operators in discussions moderated by BEREC, rather than being subject to binding obligations similar to those imposed on telecoms providers. One source described the approach as a “best practices regime” with no new mandatory requirements.

The planned overhaul will also address spectrum policy, with the Commission setting out guidance on licence duration, sale conditions and pricing methodologies to be used by national regulators during spectrum auctions, which often generate billions of euros for governments. While the goal is to harmonise spectrum allocation across the EU and reduce regulatory burdens for telecoms firms, some national regulators are expected to resist what they may see as increased centralisation of power.

In addition, the Commission plans to issue guidance on the rollout of fibre infrastructure, a key element of the EU’s digital strategy to narrow the gap with the United States and China. Governments may also be allowed to extend the 2030 deadline for replacing copper networks with fibre if they can demonstrate they are not ready to meet the target.

The EU’s digital policy push has drawn criticism from Washington in recent years, with U.S. officials arguing that new rules unfairly target American companies. Brussels has repeatedly rejected those claims.

Samsung Aims to Expand Galaxy AI Devices to 800 Million This Year

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Samsung Electronics is preparing to significantly expand the reach of its Galaxy AI features as competition in the global artificial intelligence market intensifies. The company plans to sharply increase the number of mobile devices equipped with AI-powered capabilities, many of which are supported by Google’s Gemini technology.

According to the company, Samsung had already enabled Galaxy AI features on roughly 400 million devices, including smartphones and tablets, by the end of last year. These tools have become a central part of Samsung’s strategy to differentiate its products in an increasingly crowded mobile market.

Looking ahead, Samsung aims to double that figure in 2026, bringing Galaxy AI to approximately 800 million mobile devices worldwide. The expansion is expected to give the company a stronger position against competitors as AI-driven features become a key factor in consumer purchasing decisions.

Speaking to Reuters in his first interview since assuming the role of co-CEO in November, T.M. Roh emphasized the company’s broad ambitions for artificial intelligence. He said Samsung intends to integrate AI across its entire product lineup, covering hardware, software, and services, as quickly and comprehensively as possible.