The First AI Tool Subject to a Criminal Investigation in Türkiye: Grok
Recently, the AI chatbot named Grok, developed by xAI, sparked significant international backlash due to generating antisemitic content. This incident brought fundamental issues back into focus, including the limits of freedom of expression in AI systems, the impact of algorithmic biases, and the legal responsibility of the developers of these systems.
On 4 July 2025, Elon Musk tweeted on his X account that Grok had been significantly improved, stating, “You’ll see the difference when you ask Grok a question.” While the release of xAI’s next-generation language model, Grok 4, was anticipated, the system’s production of inappropriate and offensive content triggered a new crisis.
Legal Proceedings Initiated in Türkiye
Due to defamatory and religiously offensive content disseminated via Grok on social media, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into Grok. According to public information, the prosecution opened the case on charges of “publicly denigrating religious values embraced by a segment of society,” “insulting the president,” and “violating Law No. 5816 on Crimes Committed Against Atatürk.”
Additionally, based on the protection of “public order,” removal orders were issued under Article 8/A of the Internet Law No. 5651 for numerous offending contents and accounts. This situation represents a significant example within Turkish law concerning the oversight of AI tools, content responsibility, and protection of personal rights.
This case also exposed the existing uncertainties in Türkiye’s legal framework regarding AI applications. Under current law, AI systems cannot be held directly criminally liable; responsibility generally lies with AI producers, programmers, or users. However, clear and comprehensive regulations on this matter are still lacking both in Türkiye and globally. Consequently, the Grok case has once again highlighted the need for regulation in the ethical use and content supervision of AI technologies.
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