The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore have sued X Corp., xAI, and SpaceX, alleging their Grok AI system violated local consumer protection laws by generating and distributing non-consensual sexualized imagery, including depictions of minors. The complaint cites estimates that Grok produced up to 3 million such images in a matter of days. The city is seeking civil penalties, restitution for residents, and court orders to halt the alleged conduct, in a case experts say could set a precedent for local AI regulation.
Baltimore has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk‘s xAI and other companies, alleging the Grok chatbot was designed to produce harmful non-consensual intimate imagery. The city claims the tool exposes residents to privacy violations and psychological harm, with the complaint stating Grok enables users to “undress” or “manipulate images” of real people.
The lawsuit cites estimates that Grok generated between 1.8 million and 3 million sexualized images in just days in late 2025 and early 2026. This included approximately 23,000 depictions of children, according to analyses referenced in the filing.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott stated, “These deepfakes, especially those depicting minors, have traumatic, lifelong consequences for victims.” The suit alleges the companies marketed Grok while knowing its capabilities, despite public claims prohibiting such content.
Legal expert Ishita Sharma noted the case represents a local attempt to regulate AI absent federal law. Sharma said the legal focus will likely be on whether the AI system is seen “as an active creator rather than a passive intermediary,” which would increase liability for xAI.
The city is seeking civil penalties, injunctive relief, and restitution for affected residents. The case arrives amid multiple global investigations into Grok and a separate federal class action filed by three Tennessee minors.
