Japan has joined a growing list of countries scrutinising X over Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence service Grok and concerns that the chatbot can be used to create and spread sexualised images of people without their consent.
The development adds new pressure on the social media platform as regulators worldwide step up checks on AI tools that may violate privacy and image rights.
Japan’s move comes after Grok triggered backlash this month for how easily it could be used to manipulate photos to sexualise or demean individuals. While restrictions have been introduced, officials say the risk has not been fully contained.
According to Bloomberg, the Cabinet Office has asked X to improve safeguards and curb the output of sexually altered images created through Grok, Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda said.
Officials also submitted written questions about what measures X has in place to prevent deepfakes and other images that violate people’s privacy, intellectual property, and the right to control the use of their likeness, she added.
Cabinet Office pushes X to strengthen Grok safeguards
Onoda said the government is seeking clearer answers on how X plans to stop the creation of harmful doctored images, including non-consensual sexualised deepfakes.
Japan’s Cabinet Office is also looking at whether the platform’s current measures are effective enough to prevent misuse, especially as the tools become more accessible and harder to detect.
Grok drew heavy criticism this month from users and governments, from Malaysia to Italy, over the ease with which it could be used to manipulate images.
Since then, Grok has applied some restrictions on its image-generation capabilities and put them behind a paywall.
Japan warns legal steps remain possible
Japan’s intervention has been accompanied by a warning that stronger action is possible if the problem continues. Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Onoda said all options remain available if X does not improve safeguards.
She said the government is prepared to consider legal steps if there is no improvement.
Onoda also signalled that Japan may take similar action against other platforms if the same kind of issue emerges elsewhere, indicating that regulators are watching the wider AI market, not just Grok.
Earlier this week, xAI, the company behind Grok, said it is disabling the ability for users to generate sexualised images of real people using the chatbot.
Still, Onoda said the ongoing ability to create such content remains a concern and may require further measures.
Global probes widen as countries tighten access
Japan’s move comes as investigations expand across multiple jurisdictions.
Canada, California, the European Union, and individual EU member states such as France are probing whether Grok’s generated images violate people’s rights.
In parts of Southeast Asia, authorities have taken a more direct route by restricting access.
Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines have restricted domestic access to Grok, reflecting growing concern about how quickly AI-generated content can spread and how difficult it can be to contain once created.
The issue has placed X and xAI under renewed attention at a time when governments are increasingly focused on regulating AI tools that can blur the line between real and synthetic media.
Japan’s AI law limits enforcement power
Japan is trying to balance tighter controls with its ambition to catch up with the US and China in AI, an area it sees as important to national strategy.
However, its current framework may limit how aggressively it can respond.
Japan’s AI law, which took full effect in September, carries no penalties.
This restricts government interference largely to investigations and issuing formal guidance when violations occur, rather than imposing direct sanctions.
Discussions among Japanese policymakers have centred on measures such as educating users and requiring AI services to show when images have been doctored.
As per Bloomberg, the Cabinet Office is also seeking to coordinate possible steps with the Justice Ministry, the National Police Agency, and the Communications Ministry.
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