Techlash! Cocaine Raids, Social Bans, and AI "Slop" Hit Headlines

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X Offices Raided in France, UK Investigates Grok Amidst AI Concerns

French authorities raided the offices of Elon Musk's social media platform X as part of an investigation into suspected offenses, including unlawful data extraction and complicity in the possession of child pornography, according to the BBC. The Paris prosecutor's cyber-crime unit conducted the raid, and both Musk and former X chief executive Linda Yaccarino have been summoned to appear at hearings in April. Separately, the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) announced an investigation into Musk's AI tool, Grok, over its "potential to produce harmful sexualised image and video content."

The raid in France and the UK investigation highlight growing concerns surrounding the platform X and the potential misuse of artificial intelligence. Musk responded to the raid on X, characterizing it as a "political attack."

The UK's ICO probe into Grok adds to the scrutiny surrounding AI-generated content and its potential for harm. This comes as concerns rise about the proliferation of AI-generated content, often referred to as "AI slop," on social media platforms. Joe Tidy, a cyber correspondent for the BBC World Service, described an instance of AI slop involving an image of two emaciated South Asian children with beards, one missing limbs, holding a sign asking for likes. The image, despite its obvious AI origins, went viral on Facebook, garnering nearly one million likes and heart emojis.

These developments occur as other countries grapple with issues related to online safety and social media regulation. Spain recently announced plans to ban social media for children under the age of 16, according to the BBC. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated the changes would protect children from the "digital Wild West." The ban, which requires parliamentary approval, is part of a broader effort to hold company executives responsible for "illegal or harmful content" on their platforms. Australia implemented a similar ban last year, and France, Denmark, and Austria have also announced similar measures.