The online platform X has sparked major outrage after people employed its AI chatbot Grok to change pictures of females by taking off their garments.
Several cases have emerged where the tool has been used to remove clothing from female subjects to make them appear in bikinis without permission, as well as to put them in sexualized scenarios.
Developer Reaction and Legal Stance
XAI, the firm behind Grok, did not respond to questions, except for an standard response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government spokesperson stated that legislation is being introduced to prohibit image stripping software. Under a new criminal offence, anyone who provided such technology would "be subject to a prison sentence and significant fines".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these forms of misuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Oversight Body Stance and Platform Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "assess the potential" of people viewing unlawful material on their platforms, but did not specify whether it was at this time investigating X or Grok in concerning AI-generated pictures.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some additional features—which reacts to X users' requests when they reference it in a tweet.
It is frequently used to provide reactions or more context to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also able to alter an posted picture through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.
Background of Controversy and Rules
The tool has been criticised for allowing users to produce images and clips with nudity and sexualised content, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in making inappropriate material of celebrities.
"The platform has been permitting the production and distribution of these images for a long time without taking any measures and we have not witnessed any intervention by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own terms of service bans "depicting likenesses of persons in a pornographic fashion".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was illegal to "create or circulate non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and confirmed this covered sexual deepfakes generated with AI.
It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "suitable steps" to "reduce the danger" of users coming across illegal content on their platforms and to delete it quickly when they learn of it.
