The online network X has provoked significant backlash after users employed its AI chatbot Grok to alter images of women by removing their attire.
Numerous instances have emerged where the system has been used to virtually strip women to render them in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to place them in inappropriate situations.
Developer Response and Legal Position
XAI, the firm behind Grok, remained silent to requests for comment, except for an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that new laws is being brought forward to prohibit image stripping tools. Under a new criminal offence, anyone who distributed such technology would "face a prison sentence and substantial penalties".
"The platform could prevent these forms of misuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Position and Tool Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said platforms must "evaluate the danger" of people seeing illegal content on their platforms, but did not confirm whether it was at this time looking into X or Grok in concerning AI-generated images.
Grok is a free chatbot—with some premium features—which responds to X users' queries when they reference it in a tweet.
It is often used to provide reactions or more context to other users' comments, but people on X are also can alter an posted picture through its AI image editing feature.
History of Controversy and Rules
The tool has been faulted for permitting users to generate photos and footage with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was in the past accused of creating inappropriate material of public figures.
"The platform has been permitting the generation and distribution of these pictures for a long time without taking any measures and we have yet to see any action by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own terms of service bans "portraying images of persons in a sexually explicit way".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was illegal to "make or share private pictures or illegal content" and stated this applied to sexual deepfakes generated with AI.
It said services such as X were mandated to take "necessary actions" to "reduce the risk" of users viewing unlawful content on their services and to delete it quickly when they learn of it.
