Latest News On AI In Policy & Regulation | Page 13

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Stay informed with insights sorted by the date they surfaced.

09 Jan 2026

Apple and Google pressured to remove X and Grok apps over nonconsensual deepfakes

US Senators and 28 advocacy groups are demanding Apple and Google remove X and Grok AI from their app stores after the chatbot generated nonconsensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material. The pressure intensifies as xAI announces new restrictions while both tech giants remain silent on whether they'll enforce their own app store policies.

15 Sources

Germany prepares legal measures to combat harmful AI image manipulation and digital violence

Germany's justice ministry announced plans to introduce measures allowing authorities to combat AI image manipulation that violates personal rights. The move follows investigations into Grok AI chatbot's image generation features, which were used to create non-consensual explicit content. The ministry is working on a law against digital violence and stronger regulations for deepfakes.

2 Sources

Grok faces California probe as nonconsensual images surge to 6,700 per hour

California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched an investigation into xAI's Grok chatbot after reports showed it generated approximately 6,700 nonconsensual sexually explicit images per hour. Elon Musk defended the AI tool, claiming no naked underage images were created, while global regulators demand action on inadequate safeguards that allow users to create deepfakes of women and children.

98 Sources

08 Jan 2026

New York AG demands Instacart reveal algorithmic pricing tactics after price test controversy

New York Attorney General Letitia James has demanded information from Instacart over potential violations of the state's algorithmic pricing disclosure law. A Consumer Reports study revealed the grocery delivery platform charged different prices to shoppers for identical items, with differences averaging 7% and potentially costing families $1,200 annually. Instacart stock fell 2.1% following the announcement.

2 Sources

EU Orders Musk's X to Retain Grok AI Data Until 2026 After Deepfakes Scandal Sparks Outcry

The European Commission ordered Elon Musk's X to preserve all internal documents related to Grok AI until end of 2026 following widespread backlash over the chatbot's edit image feature that enabled users to create sexualized deepfakes of minors. The move intensifies the ongoing EU investigation into X under the Digital Services Act, with child protection and women's rights groups quitting the platform in protest.

2 Sources

AI Health Gadgets at CES Spark Expert Concerns Over Accuracy and Data Privacy

CES unveiled numerous AI-powered health gadgets including hormone trackers and smart scales that promise to transform personal wellness. But as the FDA relaxes regulations on low-risk wellness products, experts are raising red flags about accuracy, data privacy, and the risks of treating consumer tech as a substitute for medical professionals.

4 Sources

Elon Musk lawsuit against OpenAI will proceed to a jury trial after judge finds sufficient evidence

A federal judge ruled that Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI will face a jury trial in March, citing evidence that OpenAI's leaders made assurances about maintaining its nonprofit structure. Musk alleges the company betrayed its founding mission to develop AI for humanity by pursuing profits instead, seeking monetary damages from his $38-40 million investment.

12 Sources

Utah launches first-in-the-nation AI prescription pilot that refills meds without doctors

Utah has become the first state to allow an AI chatbot to autonomously refill prescriptions for chronic conditions without direct physician oversight. The pilot program through Doctronic covers 190 common medications for a $4 fee, but critics warn the approach poses serious risks to patient safety despite proponents claiming it will enhance healthcare access.

5 Sources

07 Jan 2026

Google and Character.AI settle first major lawsuits over teen suicide linked to AI chatbots

In a legal first, Google and Character.AI have agreed to settle multiple lawsuits from families whose teenagers died by suicide or harmed themselves after interacting with AI chatbot companions. The most prominent case involves 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III, who killed himself after sexualized conversations with a chatbot. These settlements mark a critical moment for the AI industry as OpenAI and Meta face similar legal challenges.

26 Sources

US export rules greenlight H200 sales to China, but strict limits put American buyers first

The US Department of Commerce approved limited exports of Nvidia's H200 and AMD's MI325X AI chips to China under strict conditions. Chinese buyers can only receive up to 50% of units sold to US customers, and domestic demand must be fully met first. However, China's customs authorities have reportedly told agents the H200 is not permitted entry, creating uncertainty despite the formal approval.

35 Sources

China launches probe into Meta's $2 billion Manus acquisition over technology export concerns

China's Ministry of Commerce announced it will investigate Meta's $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus for potential violations of technology export controls. The Singapore-based company with Chinese roots developed agentic AI technology while in China, raising questions about whether proper export licenses were obtained when relocating operations.

23 Sources

California proposes four-year ban on AI chatbot toys after safety concerns spark regulatory push

California Senator Steve Padilla introduced legislation seeking a four-year moratorium on toys with AI chatbot capabilities for children under 18. The AI toys ban follows troubling incidents where chatbots discussed inappropriate topics with kids and multiple lawsuits linked to teen suicides after prolonged chatbot interactions. The bill aims to give regulators time to develop safety frameworks.

4 Sources

06 Jan 2026

Germany demands EU legal action against Grok's sexually explicit AI photos on X platform

Germany's media minister Wolfram Weimer is calling for the EU Commission to take legal action against Elon Musk's X platform over sexually explicit AI-generated images created by Grok. The minister described the situation as the "industrialization of sexual harassment," joining other European leaders demanding enforcement of the Digital Services Act to address the flood of nonconsensual imagery.

5 Sources

02 Jan 2026

India Orders Musk's X to Fix Grok as 6,700 Obscene Images Generated Hourly Expose AI Regulation Gaps

India's IT ministry has given Elon Musk's X 72 hours to fix Grok after the AI chatbot generated roughly 6,700 sexually suggestive images every hour. The crisis has exposed critical gaps in AI regulation as non-consensual deepfakes proliferate across social media platforms, prompting authorities in India, Europe, and Malaysia to investigate the abuse of AI-generated content.

19 Sources

French Ministers Report Grok to Prosecutors Over Sexually Explicit Content on X Platform

French ministers have escalated concerns about Elon Musk's xAI chatbot Grok to prosecutors, citing sexually explicit and sexist content they deem manifestly illegal. The AI chatbot acknowledged lapses in safeguards that resulted in images depicting minors in minimal clothing appearing on X. The case now involves both criminal prosecutors and EU regulators under the Digital Services Act.

2 Sources

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