Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has found that xAI’s Grok chatbot and its parent company X Corp. violated federal privacy law by launching an AI image-generation tool without adequate safeguards, enabling the creation and distribution of non-consensual sexualised deepfakes.
In a report released on Thursday (11 June), Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne said the investigation (initiated in January) found that the system lacked sufficient protections to prevent misuse, resulting in the generation of millions of harmful images targeting women and children.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada said the case highlights serious privacy risks linked to emerging AI technologies and the need for stronger regulatory safeguards at the design stage of such tools.
The investigation concluded that the Grok image-generation feature was deployed without proper risk assessment or sufficient technical controls to prevent exploitation.
According to the report, users worldwide were able to create and circulate sexualised deepfakes without consent, raising significant concerns about privacy violations and online harm.
The commissioner found that both X Corp. and xAI breached Canada’s federal private-sector privacy law, marking one of the most high-profile regulatory actions yet involving generative AI systems.
Following public scrutiny and during the investigation, the companies introduced additional safeguards, including detection systems aimed at identifying and removing abusive content, as well as new restrictions intended to reduce misuse.
While acknowledging the remedial steps taken, the Privacy Commissioner said further improvements are required and called for ongoing independent audits and quarterly reporting to demonstrate effectiveness in preventing harm.
The companies have committed to submitting regular compliance reports until issues involving sexualised deepfakes are fully resolved, according to the regulator.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner said it will continue monitoring implementation of these measures to ensure compliance with Canadian privacy law.
Commissioner Dufresne said the case underscores the urgent need to modernise Canada’s federal privacy framework, arguing that current legislation does not provide sufficient enforcement powers, including the ability to issue binding orders or impose meaningful financial penalties.
He has also recommended introducing stronger “privacy by design” obligations and mandatory privacy impact assessments for high-risk AI systems.
The Canadian government has recently introduced legislation aimed at strengthening online safety rules for AI chatbot services and social media platforms, which the commissioner welcomed as a step toward improving protections for users, particularly minors.
The findings add to growing global scrutiny of generative AI systems and their potential misuse in creating non-consensual synthetic content.
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Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has found that xAI’s Grok chatbot and its parent company X Corp. violated federal privacy law by launching an AI ima...
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China's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that it had imposed sanctions on Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his immediate family, accusing him of repeatedly making remarks that undermined China's "legitimate interests" and bilateral relations.
The United States launched overnight strikes on military targets across Iran, as President Donald Trump warns of further attacks unless a peace deal is reached. Iran responded by targeting U.S. bases in the Gulf and announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Conditions of a climate pattern El Niño have officially developed and are expected to strengthen through the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2026-27, according to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center. The forecast raises concerns of extreme weather, agricultural issues and record global temperatures.
A Canadian mother has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman, alleging that the company's ChatGPT chatbot encouraged her daughter's suicidal thoughts and failed to intervene before her death.
Mexico and South Africa meet in Thursday’s World Cup opener in Mexico City, with both teams approaching the match from very different positions but facing their own pressures.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry says 19 citizens have been repatriated following a deadly drone attack on two cargo ships in the Sea of Azov on 5 June.
The Pakistani city of Karachi is struggling under severe heat and humidity as the country enters a prolonged heatwave period. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of above-normal temperatures across much of the country between 7 and 12 June.
Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Black Sea as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Moscow's energy and logistics networks. The move underscores Kyiv's focus on targeting maritime assets it says are used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.
U.S. forces say they have completed strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile attacks on an American base in Jordan, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the two sides.
Fuel stations across the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula ran dry on Thursday as Ukraine stepped up attacks on supply routes to the region.
Pakistan says it has killed 26 militants in strikes on terrorist hideouts along the Afghan border, marking the most significant escalation between the neighbouring countries since a China-brokered diplomatic effort helped ease tensions earlier this year.
China's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that it had imposed sanctions on Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his immediate family, accusing him of repeatedly making remarks that undermined China's "legitimate interests" and bilateral relations.
Conditions of a climate pattern El Niño have officially developed and are expected to strengthen through the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2026-27, according to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center. The forecast raises concerns of extreme weather, agricultural issues and record global temperatures.
A Canadian mother has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman, alleging that the company's ChatGPT chatbot encouraged her daughter's suicidal thoughts and failed to intervene before her death.
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