Alabama Lawmakers Investigate Grok AI for Child Porn

Alabama lawmakers are zeroing in on Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, after it was used to generate and share millions of pornographic images, including sexualized images of children on X. Additionally, a bipartisan coalition of 35 state attorneys general have sent a letter to xAI urging the implementation of stronger safeguards to protect against these abuses.

During the fifth day of the 2026 legislative session, advocates and law enforcement officials raised alarms at the Statehouse about how easily AI tools like Grok can be used to generate explicit images using real people’s faces — often pulled from social media — without their consent. In some cases, they warned, those images are being used to exploit or blackmail children and families.

State Rep. Ben Harrison said he is working with faith leaders and law enforcement to draft legislation that would hold AI platforms accountable when their tools are used to produce illegal or exploitative content. The goal, he said, is not to target lawful uses of AI, but to stop platforms from enabling or encouraging the creation of pornography, especially content involving minors.

Former law enforcement officials described how AI has changed the nature of child exploitation. Instead of relying on physical access, predators can now use technology to fabricate realistic images, creating harm even when a child never took or shared a photo.

Supporters of regulation said existing laws were not written for this kind of technology and have failed to keep pace with how fast AI tools are evolving. They argued that waiting for federal action leaves families vulnerable, and that states have a responsibility to step in.

Several speakers pointed to growing national scrutiny of Grok, which has been criticized for weak safeguards and for allowing explicit content to be generated at scale. Alabama is one of many states who have also launched investigations into the chatbot, including Arizona, Michigan, and California. While Alabama lawmakers have not yet introduced a formal bill, they indicated legislation aimed at AI platforms like Grok is coming later this session.