The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X over concerns that its AI chatbot, Grok, was used to generate non-consensual sexualized images of real people, including women and minors.

The probe, launched Monday, focuses on whether X has met its legal obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to assess and mitigate systemic risks related to illegal content, particularly manipulated sexually explicit images and potential child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy at the European Commission, Henna Virkkunen condemned the practice, stating: “Non-consensual sexual deepfakes of women and children are a violent, unacceptable form of degradation.” She emphasized that the investigation will determine whether X treated the rights of European citizens—especially women and children—as “collateral damage” of its service.

The Commission highlighted that Grok was not included in X’s required risk assessment reports under the DSA, despite being integrated into the platform. This omission raises serious concerns about X’s failure to properly evaluate and mitigate risks. The probe also extends the Commission’s ongoing investigation into X’s recommender systems, which now may use Grok’s AI, raising further questions about algorithmic risks.

X on January 14, said it had restricted image editing to prevent depictions of people in revealing clothing in jurisdictions where it is illegal, but EU officials argue these measures are insufficient and do not address systemic risks. The Commission may impose interim measures or fines of up to 6% of X’s global annual turnover if violations are found.

The investigation follows similar actions by the UK’s Ofcom, Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, which temporarily banned or restricted Grok over similar concerns. The EU is coordinating closely with Ireland’s national regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, due to X’s European headquarters being located there.

In response, X reiterated its “zero tolerance” policy for child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content, but the EU remains unconvinced that adequate safeguards are in place. The probe is ongoing, with no set deadline for resolution.

The U.S. and Chinese governments have approved a deal that transfers control of TikTok’s U.S. operations to a new American-owned entity, with Larry Ellison’s Oracle, Silver Lake Partners, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX each holding a 15% stake in the new venture. ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, retains a 19.9% share, while the remaining 80.1% is owned by the consortium.

The deal, finalized on Thursday, ended a yearslong legal battle after Congress passed a law in 2024 mandating that TikTok be divested from Chinese ownership to avoid a nationwide ban.

Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle and the largest private donor to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), has funneled over $26 million to FIDF since 2014, including a record $16.6 million gift in 2017. He has also offered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a board seat at Oracle and vacationed with his family on Ellison’s Hawaiian island.

Netanyahu has publicly called TikTok “the most important purchase going on right now,” stating that social media is “the most important weapon” in shaping U.S. public opinion and securing Israel’s political base.

The sale has sparked widespread criticism over censorship and content suppression, particularly regarding coverage of Gaza and the West Bank. Since October 2023, TikTok has faced pressure from U.S. lawmakers and pro-Israel groups over pro-Palestinian content.

Erica Mindle, a former IDF instructor and self-described Zionist, was appointed as TikTok’s hate speech policy manager, and the platform has reportedly removed videos documenting Israeli military actions, deleted hashtags like #FreePalestine, and suppressed content from Arabic news outlets.

Internal Meta data shows a similar pattern of overenforcement against pro-Palestinian speech on Facebook and Instagram, with over 90,000 posts removed in response to Israeli government takedown requests.

The new ownership structure raises concerns about algorithmic control and narrative manipulation. Oracle will serve as the platform’s “security provider,” overseeing data and algorithmic operations in the U.S.

Critics argue the deal is less about national security and more about political control, with pro-Israel billionaires now shaping what American users see online. The U.S. government, under President Trump, approved the deal as a “national security win,” despite earlier offers from TikTok to store U.S. data on Oracle servers and allow third-party audits.

The acquisition reveals a coordinated effort to influence global narratives: Tony Blair, backed by Ellison’s funding, is being positioned to lead a proposed Gaza International Transitional Authority; Clearview AI, a surveillance firm linked to Owen West (a top Pentagon official), has expanded its use in Ukraine and U.S. law enforcement; and Rupert Murdoch, Jeff Yass, and other pro-Israel figures are believed to have influence in the new TikTok ownership structure.

This convergence of tech, media, and political power suggests a strategic shift to control digital discourse in favor of Israeli interests.

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. man that participated in the riots against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE|) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was fatally shot by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent on Saturday, during a confrontation with federal agents.

The incident occurred in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, a predominantly Somali-American community dubbed “Little Mogadishu,” amid a surge in federal immigration enforcement operations under President Donald Trump’s “Operation Metro Surge.”

Pretti, a intensive care unit (ICU) nurse, was carrying a 9mm handgun while interfering with ICE operations at the time of the shooting according to videos of the incident circulating online.

Video footage from bystanders show Pretti filming the scene, obstructing a federal agent who was trying to shove and detain a female rioter. As agents tried to detain Pretti himself for obstruction, he resisted arrest.

One agent took Pretti's gun during the confrontation. Apparently the gun -- a 9mm (Sig Sauer P320 variant) semi-automatic handgun -- accidentally discharged. One agent can be heard shouting "gun gun," before the agents opened fire. Pretti was pronounced dead on the scene.

Federal officials—including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller— initially labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist,” “assassin,” and “would-be killer.” Authorities have since started an official investigation into the incident.

Riots intensified across Minneapolis and in Pretti’s hometown of Green Bay, Wisconsin, with thousands gathering. The protests were violent as vidoes circulationg online show.

Rioters targeted federal agents and hotels housing ICE personnel, as local police withdrew from the scene, leaving one agent bleeding from the nose and hands as he faced off with violent left-wing protesters. The Minnesota Timberwolves held a moment of silence for Pretti before a postponed game, with fans shouting “(expletive) ICE” and “go home ICE.”

In a Truth Social post late Sunday, President Trump blamed the killing on “Democrat-run sanctuary cities” and “Democrat ensued chaos,” and demanded full cooperation from Minnesota and other states.

“Governor Tim Walz called me with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota. It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength. What we are looking for are any and all Criminals that they have in their possession,” Trump announced Monday on Truth Social.

He issued four demands:

1. Turn over all undocumented immigrants in state prisons and jails.

2. Turn over all undocumented immigrants arrested by local police.

3. Require local law enforcement to assist federal agents in detaining undocumented immigrants.

4. “Formally cooperate with the Trump Administration to enforce our Nation’s Laws, rather than resist and stoke the flames of Division, Chaos, and Violence.”

Trump also announced the deployment of Border Czar Tom Homan, to manage ICE operations and speak to local politicians in Minnesota, calling him “tough but fair.”

Body-worn camera footage from CBP agents involved in the shooting is under review by federal investigators. The footage, captured from multiple angles, is expected to clarify the sequence of events.

A federal court hearing on Minnesota’s request to halt Operation Metro Surge ended without a ruling. Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney Brantley Mayers called the state’s request “staggering,” arguing it would undermine federal law enforcement authority.

Minnesota left-wing Democrat Governor Tim Walz rejected federal claims about the shooting, calling them “lies” and demanding the immediate removal of 3,000 federal agents from the state. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed and press conference, he accused Trump of “gaslighting the entire country” and using the tragedy to escalate political tensions ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Walz claimed that the Minnesota Department of Corrections complies with federal immigration detainers and has no record of releasing inmates without ensuring transfer. However federal officals point out that city and county jails in the state do not comply with detainers.

Former Democrat President Bill Clinton condemned the federal actions, stating, “The people in charge have lied,” and urged Americans to “stand up” against the erosion of civil liberties.

The Trump administration has blamed Democrat politicians' vitriolic anti-ICE rhetoric for inciting the riots against law enforcement operations across the country.

White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, called the shooting a “tragedy” and expressed sympathy for Pretti’s family, but reiterated blame on Democratic leaders for “hostile resistance” to federal immigration enforcement.

Sunday's shooting followed the January 7 killing of another left-wing rioter Renee Good, who attempted to run over an ICE officer, sparking widespread riots in Minneapolis.