Activists Call on Apple and Google to Remove X App from Stores

XAI’s Grok Sparks Controversy Over Nonconsensual Content

The digital landscape is currently facing a significant challenge with the proliferation of nonconsensual sexual deepfakes on platforms like X. These deepfakes blatantly violate the policies of tech giants Apple and Google, yet the apps hosting them, including X and xAI’s Grok, continue to remain on their respective app stores. In response to this alarming trend, a coalition of 28 advocacy groups, comprising women’s organizations and tech watchdogs, have issued a call to action directed at Apple’s Tim Cook and Google’s Sundar Pichai, urging them to take a stand against these violations.

The controversy surrounding Grok stems from its use in creating nonconsensual intimate images, including disturbing content such as child sexual abuse material. This not only constitutes a criminal offense but also directly contravenes Apple’s App Review Guidelines. The coalition is calling on Apple to swiftly remove both the Grok app and its integration within X to prevent further harm.

The advocacy groups, spearheaded by organizations like UltraViolet, the National Organization for Women, Women’s March, MoveOn, and Friends of the Earth, have also addressed Google with a similar plea. They highlight the rampant creation of nonconsensual content on X, labeling it as a “mass spree of ‘mass digitally undressing’ women and minors.” Concerns over Grok’s potential for harm have been raised by civil society groups since its inception.

In an effort to combat the issue, the coalition has launched the “Get Grok Gone” campaign, aligning with UltraViolet’s broader initiative, Reclaim the Domain. This campaign aims to address the nonconsensual creation and dissemination of intimate images, shedding light on the importance of consent and privacy in the digital realm.