A public clash between Elon Musk and Pedro Sánchez has escalated into a broader confrontation over artificial-intelligence regulation, after Spain announced sweeping digital-safety reforms that could expose platform executives to criminal liability and place new restrictions on AI-generated content.
The dispute centers on Grok, the AI service developed by Musk's company xAI, which is under scrutiny by Spanish authorities amid concerns that it has generated sexualized images of minors. Madrid's proposed legislation would tighten age-verification rules, criminalize certain forms of algorithmic manipulation, and hold senior executives personally responsible for illegal content hosted or amplified on their platforms.
Musk responded sharply on X, the social-media platform he owns, accusing Sánchez of authoritarian overreach. He described the Spanish leader as a "tyrant" and a "traitor to the people of Spain," arguing that the proposed laws threaten innovation and freedom of expression. His post included an emoji often interpreted online as a gesture of contempt.
Spain's reforms, unveiled by Sánchez's government this week, would significantly expand regulatory oversight of large technology platforms. Officials say the measures are intended to protect citizens-particularly children-from harmful online content and from the rapid spread of abuse through algorithm-driven systems.
Under the proposals, platform executives could face legal consequences if their services are used to disseminate illegal material. The plan also calls for mandatory, robust age-authentication systems for users under 16, replacing self-reported age checks, and introduces the concept of a "hate and polarisation footprint" designed to track how digital networks contribute to social division.
The legislation also targets algorithmic practices directly, seeking to criminalize manipulation that promotes unlawful or abusive content. Spanish officials argue that existing safeguards have failed to keep pace with the scale and speed of AI-driven dissemination.
Musk's reaction was widely seen as triggered by the focus on Grok. The AI tool has drawn international criticism from watchdog groups and child-protection organizations, which say it has produced sexualized imagery involving minors without sufficient safeguards. Investigators and advocacy groups warn that such outputs risk normalizing harmful material and accelerating its spread across mainstream platforms.
The Internet Watch Foundation has warned that AI-generated sexual imagery could contribute to the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Governments in Malaysia and Indonesia have temporarily blocked access to Grok, citing risks to minors.
In the UK, the Information Commissioner's Office has opened a probe into whether similar AI outputs violate child-safety and data-protection rules, while Ofcom is reviewing the issue under the Online Safety Act. UNICEF has urged governments to criminalize AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
xAI has acknowledged weaknesses in Grok's moderation systems and said it is strengthening safeguards. Experts caution, however, that technical fixes alone may not be sufficient without enforceable legal frameworks.
