A coalition of U.S. senators has launched an inquiry into X, Meta, Alphabet, Snap, Reddit, and TikTok, demanding they explain how they are combating the proliferation of nonconsensual, sexualized deepfakes. In a formal letter, lawmakers—including Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester and Richard Blumenthal—instructed the companies to preserve all internal documents related to the creation, detection, and monetization of AI-generated explicit content. The inquiry asserts that while many platforms claim to block such material, existing guardrails are effectively “failing” as users continue to bypass restrictions to create harmful imagery.
This congressional scrutiny follows intense backlash against X’s Grok chatbot, which was recently found to easily generate nude images of real people, including minors. While X has since updated Grok to restrict image editing and prohibited “non-consensual nudity” in its terms, the senators emphasize that the issue is industry-wide. Previous incidents have plagued Reddit, TikTok, and Meta, prompting the lawmakers to demand detailed definitions of “deepfake” policies, specific enforcement data, and explanations of how victims are notified and protected.
— Safety (@Safety) January 14, 2026
In response to the probe, Reddit reiterated its strict prohibition of non-consensual intimate media and its use of proactive removal tools. X pointed to its recent technical updates, while other companies like Meta and Alphabet have not yet commented. The Senate’s demand arrives amidst a tightening regulatory landscape, occurring alongside the recent federal “Take It Down Act” and a new investigation into xAI launched by California’s Attorney General just hours before the letter was sent.
