Musk says users, not Grok, are liable — but regulators aren’t convinced

Responding to the backlash, Elon Musk stated that users—not Grok—would be legally responsible for illegal content. Posting on X, Musk said anyone prompting the chatbot to generate unlawful material would face the same consequences as uploading it directly. The company reiterated that violators would be permanently banned and that it would cooperate with law enforcement.

The controversy has revived debate over how much responsibility platforms bear for AI-generated content. EU regulators have previously fined X $140 million for content moderation failures, raising questions about whether sufficient safeguards exist. Critics argue that shifting blame to users does not absolve platforms of their duty to design safer systems.

Independent reports have earlier flagged Grok’s role in producing deepfakes and explicit imagery, exposing gaps in AI governance. As regulators in India and Europe demand clearer oversight and technical fixes, the Grok case is emerging as a key test for the AI industry. How X responds may shape future expectations for platform accountability worldwide.