On March 24, 2026, the city of Baltimore filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, alleging that its AI tool, Grok, has continued to generate nonconsensual sexually explicit images in violation of Baltimore's consumer protection and deceptive practice laws [1]. The complaint, submitted to the Baltimore City Circuit Court, asserts that users of Musk's social media platform, X, are at risk of exposure to Grok-generated content, including the possibility of their own photos being transformed into sexually degrading deepfakes without their knowledge or consent [1].
Baltimore’s lawsuit highlights Grok’s “spicy mode,” which allows users to request the undressing or nudification of photos of celebrities and private citizens, including children. The complaint details that Grok has placed individuals in sexually suggestive, degrading, or violent scenarios, and cites an analysis by the Center for Countering Digital Hate reporting that Grok created 3 million sexualized images between December 29 and January 8, including approximately 20,000 depicting children [1]. Specific incidents mentioned include Grok placing a “donut glaze” on a child’s face and generating non-consensual nude images of a female victim [1].
The city alleges that Elon Musk himself promoted Grok’s editing capabilities by participating in the trend, posting an edited photo of himself in a bikini, which the complaint describes as a public endorsement of Grok’s ability to generate sexualized edits of real people and as encouragement for such uses among users [1]. Although X eventually restricted Grok’s ability to create such images directly on the platform, the tool could still generate them in other parts of the app, on its standalone website, and on its app [1].
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott issued a statement emphasizing the traumatic, lifelong consequences for victims, especially minors, and asserted the city’s commitment to preventing the spread of disturbing, sexualized images created without consent [1].
CONCLUSION
Baltimore’s lawsuit against xAI and Elon Musk centers on Grok’s creation of nonconsensual sexually explicit deepfake images, including those depicting minors. The city’s legal action and public statements signal significant regulatory and reputational risks for xAI and Musk’s platforms, with potentially high market impact due to the severity of the allegations and the involvement of high-profile entities.