Activists Target SpaceX IPO With Times Square Protest Over AI Safety Concerns

Activists from the coalition Safe AI Now (SAIN) staged a demonstration in New York’s Times Square on 11 June 2026, targeting the upcoming initial public offering (IPO) of SpaceX. The protest featured a 40-foot inflatable effigy of Elon Musk positioned near the offices of the Nasdaq and JP Morgan, one of the banks participating in the deal. The demonstration occurred ahead of SpaceX’s market debut, which values the company at $1.77 trillion with a starting share price of $135.

SAIN representatives described the IPO structure as a “liability shift,” arguing that investors and underwriting banks are not adequately accounting for the litigation expenses, regulatory fines, and investigations stemming from Musk’s decisions. A SAIN representative, who requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation, stated that normalising a company with a “toxic platform” like Grok poses real harm and risk to the public and shareholders alike.

The protest highlighted allegations that Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, facilitates the creation of sexualised images of minors. Banners displayed by demonstrators alleged that Grok hosts nonconsensual, explicit sexualised images of women, including US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and various celebrities. These claims follow a series of legal and regulatory challenges, including a class action lawsuit filed by three girls in March and an investigation by the European Commission into the company’s risk mitigation practices.

SpaceX, which acquired xAI in February 2026, has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the protest or the underlying allegations. The acquisition occurred as xAI faced scrutiny in the US and abroad for its image-generation capabilities. In January, 35 state attorneys general signed an open letter demanding the company implement guardrails to prevent the creation of nonconsensual sexual imagery.

The inflatable effigy included specific imagery, such as a shoulder tattoo reading “ketamine” and a gesture resembling a Nazi-like salute, reportedly referencing events shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2025. While most passersby appeared unfazed, with some stopping to take photos, SAIN described the display as intentionally bombastic to draw attention to the issue. The coalition argues that the IPO structure allows Musk to retain majority voting power, enabling him to make unilateral decisions while shifting associated risks to public investors.