Media News Daily: Top Stories for 01/26/2026

This page hosts daily news stories about the media, social media, and the journalism industry. Get the latest Hirings and Firings, Media Transactions, Controversies, Censorship Issues, and more.

EU Investigates Musk’s Grok AI Over Sexual Deepfake Scandal

The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into Grok, X’s AI chatbot, following widespread reports of it being used to generate sexualized and non-consensual images of real women and underage girls. X introduced restrictions earlier this month in response to backlash, aiming to prevent edits involving revealing clothing. A recent study found that Grok users could easily sexualize images using simple prompts, with the chatbot reportedly generating over 5.5 billion images in 30 days. The EU’s probe, part of the Digital Services Act (DSA), could lead to fines up to 6% of X’s global revenue. (Read More) (Reuters Ratings)

Judge Allows Antitrust Suit by Search Users Against Google

A federal judge has ruled that Google must face an antitrust lawsuit brought by individual search engine users over its exclusive agreements with Apple, Mozilla, and Android manufacturers. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin denied Google’s attempt to dismiss the suit, which alleges that the company monopolized the search market, potentially harming consumers by limiting alternative engines that may have offered better privacy, fewer ads, or user compensation. The decision follows a similar ruling by Judge Amit Mehta in a related government case. (Read More) (MediaPost Ratings)

Meta Bans Teen Access to AI Chatbot Characters Amid Safety Concerns

Meta has temporarily restricted teen users from interacting with its AI chatbot characters (excluding Meta AI), citing safety concerns and ongoing system updates. The decision follows scrutiny from the FTC and media over chatbots providing harmful advice to teens on topics such as self-harm, disordered eating, and drug use. In response, Meta began developing improved parental controls last October. This move reflects broader industry challenges in moderating generative AI, with other platforms like Snapchat also adjusting their chatbot policies amid similar controversies. (Read More) (Social Media Today Rating)