BRUSSELS: The European Commission has issued a directive requiring Elon Musk's social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to retain all internal documents and data linked to its artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, until the end of 2026. This order underscores the EU’s proactive regulatory approach as it assesses potential breaches of digital laws and seeks to enhance accountability for AI technologies operating within its jurisdiction.

The Commission's order encompasses a comprehensive collection of internal materials. These include technical documentation, training data, internal communications, and decision-making records associated with Grok. This move marks a significant step in the EU's regulatory framework, particularly in relation to AI tools embedded in major social media platforms. Regulators are increasingly scrutinizing how these technologies impact content moderation, user safety, and the proliferation of harmful material online.

Earlier in the week, the Commission denounced images circulating on X that depicted undressed women and children as “unlawful and appalling.” Officials expressed alarm over the platform’s management of nonconsensual imagery, indicating that it has raised serious concerns about compliance with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). This growing issue has spurred international condemnation, as governments around the world grapple with the increase in explicit content on social media platforms. The intersection of technology and public safety continues to be a contentious topic, pushing authorities to demand stricter oversight and accountability from tech giants like Elon Musk's X.