The online platform X has caused widespread backlash after users used its AI chatbot Grok to alter photos of women by taking off their clothing.
Numerous instances have emerged where the tool has been employed to digitally undress female subjects to show them in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to put them in sexually explicit contexts.
Company Response and Legal Position
XAI, the firm that created Grok, remained silent to questions, except for an auto-reply response stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office official stated that legislation is being introduced to prohibit image stripping technology. Under a upcoming law, anyone who provided such tools would "receive a prison sentence and heavy fines".
"The platform could prevent these types of abuse if they wanted to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Stance and Platform Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "evaluate the potential" of people viewing unlawful material on their platforms, but did not specify whether it was at this time examining X or Grok in concerning AI-generated images.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some paid-for functions—which reacts to X users' requests when they mention it in a message.
It is frequently used to provide reactions or more context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also can modify an posted photo through its AI image editing function.
Background of Criticism and Policy
The chatbot has been condemned for allowing users to create images and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was in the past accused of creating graphic material of celebrities.
"X has been enabling the creation and spread of these pictures for a long time without taking any steps and we have yet to see any action by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy prohibits "portraying likenesses of people in a sexually explicit fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "generate or share private pictures or illegal content" and confirmed this included sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said networks such as X were mandated to take "suitable actions" to "lessen the danger" of users viewing illegal content on their platforms and to delete it promptly when they are notified of it.
