Swiss finance minister files criminal complaint over Grok’s sexist outburst

Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter has filed a criminal complaint after being targeted with vulgar and sexist remarks generated by Grok, the AI chatbot integrated into X, escalating scrutiny of artificial intelligence on social media platforms.

Keller-Sutter is seeking charges of defamation and verbal abuse, according to a spokesperson, with the complaint lodged against “persons unknown” as the user who prompted the chatbot could not be identified beyond an online alias, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

She has also asked prosecutors to examine whether X bears legal responsibility for the incident.

“We’re not talking about a statement protected by the freedom of speech or a political debate here, but solely about a blatant denigration of a woman,” the finance ministry said in a statement. “Such misogyny must not be seen as normal or acceptable.”

The case adds to mounting controversy surrounding Grok, developed by Space Exploration Technologies Corp founder Elon Musk. Since its launch, the chatbot has drawn criticism for generating offensive “roasts” of public figures and producing manipulated explicit images, prompting regulatory concern in multiple jurisdictions.

A spokesperson for the Bern attorney-general’s office confirmed the complaint was filed on March 24, declining further comment. X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The platform is already under investigation by UK data regulators over potential misuse of personal data to create sexualised content, while authorities in France have conducted searches linked to cybercrime probes. The company also faces a broader European Union investigation into its practices.

In the United States, the city of Baltimore has reportedly filed a lawsuit alleging insufficient safeguards allowed Grok to alter images of minors into sexualised content, further intensifying legal pressure on the platform.

Keller-Sutter, a member of Switzerland’s seven-seat Federal Council and one of its two female members, previously served as the country’s rotating president. She drew international attention during her tenure over a tense phone call with Donald Trump amid a tariff dispute between the two countries.

By Aghakazim Guliyev