Ben Goggin
@bengoggin.bsky.social
deputy tech editor, NBC News — online investigations, extremism, child safety — tech/politics/culture
Signal: beng.38
https://linktr.ee/bengoggin
My newsletter: https://open.substack.com/pub/bgoggin
benjamin.goggin@nbcuni.com bgoggin@protonmail.com
Signal: beng.38
https://linktr.ee/bengoggin
My newsletter: https://open.substack.com/pub/bgoggin
benjamin.goggin@nbcuni.com bgoggin@protonmail.com
Reposted by Ben Goggin
I'll just point out that, like Oliver Darcy, I was also not one of the reporters who got a personal background call from Bari Weiss on Sunday giving her side of the 60 Minutes fiasco -- which apparently included her talking smack about correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi.
www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...
www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...
January 21, 2026 at 4:55 AM
I'll just point out that, like Oliver Darcy, I was also not one of the reporters who got a personal background call from Bari Weiss on Sunday giving her side of the 60 Minutes fiasco -- which apparently included her talking smack about correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi.
www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...
www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...
'We protect our kids': Parents and neighbors guard streets around Minneapolis schools amid ICE fears
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
'We protect our kids': Parents and neighbors guard streets around Minneapolis schools amid ICE fears
Makeshift groups of parents are using walkie-talkies, Signal group chats and whistles to alert the community to ICE’s presence near schools in the city.
www.nbcnews.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:10 PM
'We protect our kids': Parents and neighbors guard streets around Minneapolis schools amid ICE fears
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
U.S. citizen shares fear he felt when ICE took him from Minnesota home while nearly naked
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
U.S. citizen shares fear he felt when ICE took him from Minnesota home while nearly naked
The Hmong man, who was born in Laos and is a naturalized citizen, said he was returned without explanation or apology. DHS said it was investigating sex offenders at the address.
www.nbcnews.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:23 PM
U.S. citizen shares fear he felt when ICE took him from Minnesota home while nearly naked
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Democratic lawmakers urge FTC to investigate Trump phone
Democratic lawmakers urge FTC to investigate Trump phone
The lawmakers questioned whether the Trump phone venture engaged in false advertising with its claims that the phone will be made in the USA.
www.nbcnews.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Democratic lawmakers urge FTC to investigate Trump phone
Minnesota rep Ilhan Omar’s campaign is fundraising asking for money specifically to pay for heightened security after harassment and threats of violence
January 16, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Minnesota rep Ilhan Omar’s campaign is fundraising asking for money specifically to pay for heightened security after harassment and threats of violence
Starlink has become a lifeline for Iranians during an historic internet blackout, but it’s also become a cat and mouse game with the government
Under Iran's internet blackout, SpaceX’s Starlink is a lifeline — if it can stay online
The near-total ban on outside communication has left Starlink as the only choice for many in the country to go online.
www.nbcnews.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Starlink has become a lifeline for Iranians during an historic internet blackout, but it’s also become a cat and mouse game with the government
xAI is now suing Ashley St. Clair in federal court, alleging over $75,000 in damages, saying she violated their terms of service with her lawsuit against them earlier today.
January 15, 2026 at 9:56 PM
xAI is now suing Ashley St. Clair in federal court, alleging over $75,000 in damages, saying she violated their terms of service with her lawsuit against them earlier today.
Reposted by Ben Goggin
"Senators urged Apple and Google to remove Musk’s X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes. “Turning a blind eye to X’s egregious behavior would make a mockery of your moderation practices,” three Democratic senators wrote to Apple’s and Google’s CEOs" www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
“Turning a blind eye to X’s egregious behavior would make a mockery of your moderation
practices,” three Democratic senators wrote to Apple’s and Google’s CEOs.
www.nbcnews.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:32 PM
"Senators urged Apple and Google to remove Musk’s X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes. “Turning a blind eye to X’s egregious behavior would make a mockery of your moderation practices,” three Democratic senators wrote to Apple’s and Google’s CEOs" www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
After further testing, Grok will still produce nonconsensual sexual images in the Grok tab on X, on the Grok website, and in the Grok app, even for non-paying users.
The only pullback has been on the capabilities of the Grok reply bot.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
The only pullback has been on the capabilities of the Grok reply bot.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Elon Musk's X limits some sexual deepfakes after backlash, but xAI's Grok still makes them
Musk was facing mounting pressure from regulators, lawmakers and some users.
www.nbcnews.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:25 PM
After further testing, Grok will still produce nonconsensual sexual images in the Grok tab on X, on the Grok website, and in the Grok app, even for non-paying users.
The only pullback has been on the capabilities of the Grok reply bot.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
The only pullback has been on the capabilities of the Grok reply bot.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Reposted by Ben Goggin
Via @kevincollier.bsky.social - In a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Ben Ray Luján (D-MA) "asked the companies to 'enforce' terms of service that appear to ban the activity that was surging on X and is still possible on Grok."
Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
“Turning a blind eye to X’s egregious behavior would make a mockery of your moderation
practices,” three Democratic senators wrote to Apple’s and Google’s CEOs.
www.nbcnews.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Via @kevincollier.bsky.social - In a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Ben Ray Luján (D-MA) "asked the companies to 'enforce' terms of service that appear to ban the activity that was surging on X and is still possible on Grok."
Reposted by Ben Goggin
Senators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Lujan, and Ed Markey just published an open letter urging Apple + Google to remove the X and Grok apps from their app stores:
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Thousands of people on X are using Grok to create sexualized images of adults + minors wearing minimal clothing. This not only violates X's own content policy, it may violate the guidelines of Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store:
www.wired.com/story/x-grok...
www.wired.com/story/x-grok...
Why Are Grok and X Still Available in App Stores?
Elon Musk’s chatbot has been used to generate thousands of sexualized images of adults and apparent minors. Apple and Google have removed other “nudify” apps—but continue to host X and Grok.
www.wired.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Senators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Lujan, and Ed Markey just published an open letter urging Apple + Google to remove the X and Grok apps from their app stores:
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Reposted by Ben Goggin
New: Trio of Dem senators urge Apple and Google to enforce their own terms of service and ban X, Grok apps for their flood of nonconsensual sexual imagery.
I've repeatedly asked both Apple and Google about this for three days. They're completely silent, seemingly hoping the question just goes away.
I've repeatedly asked both Apple and Google about this for three days. They're completely silent, seemingly hoping the question just goes away.
Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
“Turning a blind eye to X’s egregious behavior would make a mockery of your moderation
practices,” three Democratic senators wrote to Apple’s and Google’s CEOs.
www.nbcnews.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:06 PM
New: Trio of Dem senators urge Apple and Google to enforce their own terms of service and ban X, Grok apps for their flood of nonconsensual sexual imagery.
I've repeatedly asked both Apple and Google about this for three days. They're completely silent, seemingly hoping the question just goes away.
I've repeatedly asked both Apple and Google about this for three days. They're completely silent, seemingly hoping the question just goes away.
NEW: Last night, Democratic Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from their app stores over sexual deepfakes.
Hours later, X restricted Grok's abilities on the app.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Hours later, X restricted Grok's abilities on the app.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
“Turning a blind eye to X’s egregious behavior would make a mockery of your moderation
practices,” three Democratic senators wrote to Apple’s and Google’s CEOs.
www.nbcnews.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:04 PM
NEW: Last night, Democratic Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from their app stores over sexual deepfakes.
Hours later, X restricted Grok's abilities on the app.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Hours later, X restricted Grok's abilities on the app.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
X has restricted AI image generation after backlash, but Grok will still make sexual deepfakes on its app and on its website www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
X restricts AI image generation after backlash, but Grok app still allows sexual deepfakes
Elon Musk was facing mounting pressure from regulators and lawmakers.
www.nbcnews.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:14 PM
X has restricted AI image generation after backlash, but Grok will still make sexual deepfakes on its app and on its website www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Ashley St. Clair says X removed her verification and demonetized her shortly after she spoke out about the Grok deepfakes
January 8, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Ashley St. Clair says X removed her verification and demonetized her shortly after she spoke out about the Grok deepfakes
Are people really taking up smoking again?
I think we're more addicted to this trend piece.
I think we're more addicted to this trend piece.
January 8, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Are people really taking up smoking again?
I think we're more addicted to this trend piece.
I think we're more addicted to this trend piece.
The real discordance between this and reality is that most Americans can't afford to drop 20 bucks for lunch on a sweetgreen bowl. Grains are far more affordable and efficient when it comes to nutritional value per cent, which is the primary concern when people are going hungry.
Slop bowl CEO has been standing by, waiting to offer his support to this matter of national importance
January 7, 2026 at 6:24 PM
The real discordance between this and reality is that most Americans can't afford to drop 20 bucks for lunch on a sweetgreen bowl. Grains are far more affordable and efficient when it comes to nutritional value per cent, which is the primary concern when people are going hungry.
Slop bowl CEO has been standing by, waiting to offer his support to this matter of national importance
January 7, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Slop bowl CEO has been standing by, waiting to offer his support to this matter of national importance
Reposted by Ben Goggin
“what ensued was countless more images produced by Grok at user requests that were much more explicit, and eventually, some of those were underage,” St. Clair said. “Photos of me of 14 years old, undressed and put in a bikini.” www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
The mother of one of Elon Musk's children says his AI bot won't stop creating sexualized images of her
Ashley St. Clair, known for her fiery commentary online, says X has been slow to respond to the issue. The chatbot has recently been scrutinized for creating sexualized images of minors.
www.nbcnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:07 PM
“what ensued was countless more images produced by Grok at user requests that were much more explicit, and eventually, some of those were underage,” St. Clair said. “Photos of me of 14 years old, undressed and put in a bikini.” www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
As Grok has churned out sexualized AI slop of non-consenting women and children, even the mother of one of Elon Musk's children, Ashley St. Clair, has been affected.
We spoke about how she's trying to get X to pay attention and what can be done to stop it.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
We spoke about how she's trying to get X to pay attention and what can be done to stop it.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
The mother of one of Elon Musk's children says his AI bot won't stop creating sexualized images of her
Ashley St. Clair, known for her fiery commentary online, says X has been slow to respond to the issue. The chatbot has recently been scrutinized for creating sexualized images of minors.
www.nbcnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:32 PM
As Grok has churned out sexualized AI slop of non-consenting women and children, even the mother of one of Elon Musk's children, Ashley St. Clair, has been affected.
We spoke about how she's trying to get X to pay attention and what can be done to stop it.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
We spoke about how she's trying to get X to pay attention and what can be done to stop it.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
Reposted by Ben Goggin
NEW: @davidingram.bsky.social and I talked to some of the right-wing influencers who are showing up to day cares in Washington and Ohio, trying to replicate Nick Shirley's video from Minnesota
Advocates for day care workers and immigrants call it a "witch hunt"
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Advocates for day care workers and immigrants call it a "witch hunt"
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Right-wing Influencers descend on day cares across the U.S. after Minnesota fraud claims
Clips of people knocking on the doors of day care centers purportedly run by Somali immigrants are being viewed millions of times online. Critics call it harassment.
www.nbcnews.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:50 PM
NEW: @davidingram.bsky.social and I talked to some of the right-wing influencers who are showing up to day cares in Washington and Ohio, trying to replicate Nick Shirley's video from Minnesota
Advocates for day care workers and immigrants call it a "witch hunt"
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Advocates for day care workers and immigrants call it a "witch hunt"
www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
Alaska's court system built an AI chatbot. It didn't go smoothly.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
Alaska's court system built an AI chatbot. It didn’t go smoothly.
A yearlong effort to build an AI probate assistant reveals the limits of government chatbot development.
www.nbcnews.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Alaska's court system built an AI chatbot. It didn't go smoothly.
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
2025 reflections… www.instagram.com/p/DS8bCpaEph...
January 1, 2026 at 1:01 AM
2025 reflections… www.instagram.com/p/DS8bCpaEph...
Best Christmas present so far: finding out that I’m in the Epstein files 🎁
December 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Best Christmas present so far: finding out that I’m in the Epstein files 🎁