TL;DR
A coalition of 28 advocacy organizations has sent open letters to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai asking both companies to block X and xAI's Grok from their app stores. The groups say X is flooded with nonconsensual sexual deepfakes that violate app-store policies, yet both apps remain available.
What happened
A group of 28 advocacy organizations published open letters addressed to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, calling for the removal of the X app and xAI's Grok from Apple’s and Google’s app stores. The campaign — referenced under the headline 'Get Grok Gone' — argues that X is awash with nonconsensual sexual deepfakes that, according to the letters, plainly contravene the content and safety rules set by both companies. Despite those claims, the excerpt notes that both X and Grok continue to be listed in the App Store and Google Play. The letters were made public on a Wednesday, and the coalition includes multiple advocacy groups; the excerpt breaks off before listing them in full. The materials frame the companies’ app-store stewardship as central to preventing the spread of harmful, nonconsensual imagery on widely used platforms.
Why it matters
- App-store enforcement decisions can directly shape which major social and AI apps remain accessible to millions of users.
- Nonconsensual sexual deepfakes raise urgent safety and privacy concerns, especially when platforms host large volumes of such content.
- How Apple and Google respond could set precedents for moderating AI-driven content and third-party apps that enable or distribute manipulative media.
- The campaign puts public pressure on tech executives to apply their stated content policies consistently across high-profile apps.
Key facts
- Open letters were sent to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
- A coalition of 28 advocacy groups authored the letters.
- The initiative is referenced under the name 'Get Grok Gone' in the source headline.
- The groups allege X is awash with nonconsensual sexual deepfakes that violate Apple’s and Google’s policies.
- Both X and xAI’s Grok remain available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play according to the excerpt.
- The open letters were published on a Wednesday (date not specified beyond that in the excerpt).
- The source excerpt cuts off before fully listing the advocacy groups involved.
What to watch next
- Whether Apple will take action to remove or restrict X or Grok from the App Store (not confirmed in the source).
- Whether Google will follow suit on Google Play or issue a public response (not confirmed in the source).
- Any public statements from X or xAI responding to the open letters (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Deepfake: Synthetic or manipulated media—often audio or video—created using AI that can make someone appear to say or do things they did not.
- Nonconsensual sexual imagery: Explicit content depicting someone without their consent, including images created or altered to sexualize individuals against their will.
- App Store policy: Rules set by platform operators (like Apple or Google) that govern which apps and content are permitted on their stores.
- xAI's Grok: An AI product or service associated with xAI referenced in the source; specific capabilities are not detailed in the excerpt.
Reader FAQ
What are the open letters asking Apple and Google to do?
They request that Apple and Google block or remove X and xAI's Grok from their respective app stores.
Who sent the letters?
A coalition of 28 advocacy groups sent the open letters.
Which advocacy groups are involved?
Not confirmed in the source.
Are Apple or Google reported to have responded?
Not confirmed in the source.
Two open letters are directed at Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. | Photo: Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images X is awash with nonconsensual sexual deepfakes that…
Sources
- ‘Get Grok Gone’: Advocacy groups demand Apple and Google block X from app stores
- Women's, advocacy groups call on Apple, Google to drop X …
- Apple, Google face pressure to remove X and Grok from …
- California investigates Elon Musk's AI company after ' …
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