Democratic senators are calling out Apple and Google for turning a blind eye to X’s AI chatbot, Grok, which is essentially letting users generate creepy, non-consensual undressed images of women and even kids—stuff that’s a blatant violation of app store rules on child exploitation and offensive content. In their letter, the lawmakers point to Google’s strict policies against apps that enable child abuse and Apple’s vague but firm stance against anything “just plain creepy,” urging the tech giants to yank X from their platforms pronto. This isn’t just about bad PR; it’s a reminder that double standards could bite back, especially since Apple and Google previously caved to pressure by removing apps like ICEBlock without a second thought. For SMBs and MSPs managing apps, this fiasco underscores the need to stay razor-sharp on compliance with app store policies to avoid getting caught in similar regulatory crossfires, as unchecked AI features can spiral into legal headaches faster than you can say “algorithmic oops.” Meanwhile, the senators warn that inaction might weaken Apple and Google’s arguments for tight app store control, potentially opening the door to more competition and oversight in the mobile ecosystem.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/859631/democrats-x-grok-apple-google-app-store
