Report: Vance agrees Grok AI sexualized images of women, children is ‘entirely unacceptable,’ as nations enforce crackdowns on X
As AI-generated sexual exploitation prompts international regulatory action, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has reportedly acknowledged the moral gravity of the issue. In a private meeting on Jan. 8 with UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Vance described the proliferation of sexually manipulated AI images — produced using Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot — as “entirely unacceptable.”
According to Lammy, who spoke with The Guardian, Vance was “sympathetic” to the UK’s concerns and alarmed by Grok’s role in what he described as fueling “hyper-pornographied slop” online.
The deepfake scandal centers on users generating sexually explicit, non-consensual images of real women and children through Grok, with some flagged by UK authorities as potential child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Though Vance has not made any public statements on the matter, Lammy said the vice president acknowledged the gravity of the situation and has remained in contact since their meeting.
“He recognized how despicable [this content] is,” Lammy said, adding, “[Vance] confirmed with me that he had seen some changes announced by X.”
Vance’s reported comments come amid a wave of global regulatory action specifically targeting Grok, as governments confront its role in enabling non-consensual, sexualized AI imagery.
According to a regulation responses tracker from Tech Policy Press, governments around the world are rapidly responding to the Grok AI deepfake scandal, with the United Kingdom leading by launching a formal Ofcom investigation under the Online Safety Act into X’s handling of illegal content, including deepfakes and potential child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Indonesia became the first country to block access to Grok, citing the risk of pornographic deepfake content, followed by Malaysia, which imposed temporary restrictions over repeated cases of obscene and non-consensual image generation involving women and minors.
France escalated its own investigation by referring explicit content from X to prosecutors and broadening its probe into AI-generated deepfakes. India issued an ultimatum demanding content removal and a full report on Grok’s safeguards. The European Union ordered X to retain all Grok-related data through the end of 2026 to enable enforcement under the Digital Services Act.
Wolfram Weimer, Germany’s federal commissioner for culture and the media, condemned the misuse of AI as the “industrialisation of sexual harassment.” Brazilian lawmakers called for Grok to be suspended over outputs that included erotica and potential CSAM. Australia’s eSafety commissioner launched an investigation into “digitally undressed” deepfakes, with condemnation from the prime minister. Sweden classified such non-consensual AI-generated imagery as a form of sexualized violence, and Italy warned that the technology may breach criminal privacy laws.
