Tech

Grok ban: The nations considering blocking AI chatbot over nonconsensual sexual content

Published

1 month ago

January 13, 2026

Vicky

Grok, xAI's all-purpose helper, fact-checker, and content generator, is under close watch from international regulators who worry the chatbot is dangerous.

In early January, X users spotted that Grok was complying with requests to create sexualized depictions of minors in revealing clothing, a form of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). xAI staff said they were looking to strengthen the chatbot's guardrails.

But it's not a simple fix. Recent investigations by Reuters, The Atlantic, and Wired found widespread flaws in the model's safeguards, which have allowed for a proliferation of nonconsensual, sexual, and sometimes graphically violent content to be generated by Grok at the request of users. On X, investigators have uncovered a mass "undressing" problem, marked by numerous accounts of users who have had their publicly posted images edited by the integrated chatbot to don revealing attire. RAINN, the national anti-sexual assault nonprofit, has called this a form of AI or tech-enabled sexual abuse.

Other chatbots and AI-powered image generators have also come under scrutiny for failing to implement safeguards regarding sexual content, including Meta's AI companions.

Replying to user concerns on X, CEO Elon Musk stated that the company takes the generation of illegal content seriously, but argued that the legal ramifications should fall on the users. Musk later responded to comments from UK's leaders about a potential sitewide block, calling it a form of censorship and alleging that foreign governments are eager to silence free speech online.

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Governments crack down on xAI

In response to slow movement from X's teams, countries have begun tamping down access to xAI's bot and standalone app, as several conduct investigations into Grok's safeguards, xAI's response, and the possibility that the company is violating various online safety laws.

The company has already faced several investigations before recent claims that Grok enabled CSAM.

In addition to ongoing investigation of X's content moderation and algorithms, members have pushed for the European Union to probe Grok for several alleged violations under its Digital Services Act, including potentially dangerous and "erratic" behavior. In recent weeks, the body ordered X to retain all data and internal documents regarding Grok as it expands its investigation.

Despite a commission spokesperson calling Grok's conduct "illegal," tech watchdogs are skeptical the body would invoke its measures to block the site completely.

The UK's communication regulator, Ofcom, also announced an official investigation into Grok, with a potential revenue fine of up to 10 percent (about $24 million) if it's found to have violated the Online Safety Act.

Organizations in the U.S. have called on federal agencies to investigate xAI, as well, citing the recently passed Take It Down Act, which criminalizes publishing or threatening to publish nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII) and grants the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) authority to sue social media platforms that don't comply with take-down requests.

Other countries, meanwhile, are moving forward with outright bans until the company complies with investigations or overhauls Grok's safety structure.

Countries that have blocked Grok access

Malaysia – Temporary suspension
Indonesia – Temporary suspension

Regions actively investigating or threatening to suspend Grok

India
The European Union
France
The UK – Considering blocking services
Brazil – Threatened to suspend Grok
Australia – Already blocks social media access for users under 16

If you have had intimate images shared without your consent, call the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative’s 24/7 hotline at 844-878-2274 for free, confidential support. The CCRI website also includes helpful information as well as a list of international resources.

Tech

Elon Musk wants to build a giant catapult on the moon

Published

40 minutes ago

February 12, 2026

Vicky

Elon Musk with his hand on his chin attempting to look intelligent

For years, Elon Musk has talked about colonizing Mars. Now, he's talking about building Looney Tunes contraptions on the moon instead.

The New York Times reported that Musk told employees at xAI on Tuesday evening that he wants to build a factory on the moon to construct AI data center satellites. Not only that, but Musk wants the factory to include some type of gigantic space catapult, called a mass driver, that would then launch the satellites into space, purportedly for the sake of powering xAI's artificial intelligence network.

"You have to go to the moon," Musk reportedly told employees, per the Times.

In case you're wondering why this plan involves xAI and not just SpaceX, it's because the two just recently merged at the corporate level. Musk said that the merger was necessary to help xAI build AI data centers in orbit around the Earth.

While these plans sound like something straight out of science fiction, Musk does have an impressive track record with SpaceX, which has accomplished many engineering firsts.

SEE ALSO:

Sam Altman unloads on Elon Musk in latest X posts

Of course, Musk did not elaborate on how, exactly, this facility would be built, or on what sort of timeline it would come together. Musk has spent decades talking up the notion of using SpaceX to colonize Mars, but he recently pivoted to the moon instead. Musk often talks about the importance of making the human race interplanetary.

As Mashable has reported previously, Musk has a history of making bold announcements that don't come to fruition.

Tech

How to watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad online for free

Published

50 minutes ago

February 12, 2026

Vicky

TL;DR: Live stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Copa del Rey semi finals are absolutely mouthwatering. A lot of fans will be focused on Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona, but the first semi-final matchup is arguably even better.

Athletic Club take on Real Sociedad in the Basque derby. The San Mamés stadium will host the first leg of this fiery rivalry. We're expecting passionate support, intense competition, and of course, drama in abundance. It's going to be electric, and you can enjoy everything that this famous game has to offer without spending anything.

If you want to watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

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When is Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad?

Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 11. This fixture takes place at the San Mamés.

How to watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad for free

Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey is available to live stream for free on RTVE.

RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE to live stream the Copa del Rey for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey for free by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Watch Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Copa del Rey without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTVE?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including Spain
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey for free with ExpressVPN.

Tech

Reserve a new Galaxy device before Samsung Unpacked and get a free $30 credit

Published

1 hour ago

February 12, 2026

Vicky

FREE $30 CREDIT: Reservations for a new Samsung Galaxy device come with a free $30 Samsung credit.

Credit: Samsung

Reserve a new Samsung Galaxy device

Get a free $30 credit

Set a calendar event because the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event is set for Feb. 25 online at both samsung.com and the brand's YouTube channel. If you'll be first in line for one of the new Galaxy S26 devices, there's a special deal in store if you reserve in advance.

Reservations for a new Samsung Galaxy device will earn you a free $30 Samsung credit. In addition, you'll be eligible for a savings of up to $900 on your order, and get entered to win $5,000 to spend at Samsung.

We have some idea of what the new Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup will include, but we'll all have to wait until Feb. 25 to get solid specs. But if you have intentions of upgrading, there's no harm in securing a reservation and saving $30. All you'll need to do is fill out Samsung's simple form with your name, e-mail address, and your phone number, if you feel like it. Then Samsung will keep you updated about future steps. The discount gets cancelled if you don't end up ordering a qualifying Galaxy device.

Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry said he wouldn't be surprised if the new S26 lineup comes with camera upgrades, in addition to more standard improvements like better battery life.

For those who've been patiently waiting for Galaxy Unpacked, now's your chance to place a reservation on a new Galaxy device with a free $30 credit. It's a win-win for those who are ready for an upgrade.