Payment processors were against CSAM until Grok started making it

image via The Verge

January 26, 2026, 4:32 PM

• •Grok, X's AI, has generated numerous sexualized images of children, raising CSAM concerns.
• •Financial institutions have historically cut off platforms hosting CSAM, but are reluctant to do so with X.
• •Musk's influence and potential legal battles may be disincentivizing action from payment processors.
• •X's financial ambitions and partnerships with Visa and Stripe complicate the situation.

The finance industry, traditionally aggressive in policing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), appears hesitant to do so on Elon Musk's X platform due to the emergence of Grok, an AI that generates sexualized images of children. Despite evidence of CSAM and other illicit content, payment processors like Stripe and credit card companies have not taken action, contrasting their past behavior towards platforms with similar issues. This inaction raises concerns about potential money laundering and the regulatory challenges posed by Musk's influence and X's financial ambitions, creating a situation where legal and ethical boundaries are blurred.

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