The online network X has caused significant backlash after users employed its AI chatbot Grok to alter images of females by removing their clothing.
Numerous instances have surfaced where the tool has been employed to remove clothing from female subjects to show them in swimwear non-consensually, as well as to insert them in inappropriate situations.
Developer Response and Legal Position
XAI, the company that created Grok, did not respond to questions, aside from an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government spokesperson stated that new laws is being introduced to prohibit image stripping technology. Under a new law, anyone who supplied such tools would "receive a jail term and heavy fines".
"The platform could prevent these types of abuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Regulator Stance and Platform Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said platforms must "evaluate the potential" of people accessing unlawful material on their services, but stopped short of confirming whether it was presently investigating X or Grok in concerning AI-generated pictures.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some paid-for functions—which reacts to X users' prompts when they mention it in a message.
It is frequently used to offer commentary or further context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also can alter an posted image through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The system has been faulted for enabling users to generate images and clips with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was previously accused of making sexually explicit content of celebrities.
"X has been enabling the creation and sharing of these pictures for months without taking any action and we have not witnessed any challenge by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy prohibits "showing images of people in a sexually explicit fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "make or share private pictures or child sexual abuse material" and stated this covered sexual deepfakes generated with AI.
It said networks such as X were mandated to take "necessary measures" to "lessen the danger" of users viewing unlawful material on their platforms and to delete it swiftly when they learn of it.