Democratic lawmakers in the United States Senate have urged Apple and Google to remove X and its associated artificial intelligence tool Grok from their app stores. The senators said the request follows reports that Grok has been used to generate non-consensual and sexualised images, including content involving minors.
In a letter sent to the two companies, the senators said the continued availability of X and Grok may conflict with app store rules that prohibit harmful or exploitative material. They argued that Apple and Google have a responsibility to enforce their own policies when apps distributed through their platforms are linked to the creation or spread of unlawful content.
The letter was signed by Senators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Luján, and Ed Markey. The lawmakers said recent changes announced by X and xAI, including limiting some image generation features to paying users, do not adequately address the risks associated with the technology. They said harmful material remains accessible and that restrictions based on subscription status do not constitute effective safeguards.
Apple’s App Store guidelines prohibit content that includes sexual exploitation or material harmful to children. Google’s Play Store policies similarly restrict apps that enable or facilitate non-consensual sexual content. The senators said failure to act could undermine the credibility of those rules and expose users to ongoing harm.
Neither Apple nor Google has publicly indicated whether they plan to remove X or Grok in response to the request. X and xAI have also not issued a formal response addressing the letter at the time of reporting.
The appeal comes amid wider scrutiny of generative artificial intelligence tools and their ability to produce realistic but harmful imagery. Lawmakers said the case highlights growing pressure on platform operators and app distributors to address the risks posed by AI systems that can be misused to create abusive or exploitative content.