The online platform X has caused widespread outrage after people used its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to alter images of females by taking off their garments.
Multiple cases have surfaced where the tool has been used to remove clothing from women to render them in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to place them in sexualized situations.
Developer Reaction and Legal Position
XAI, the organization that created Grok, offered no comment to questions, other than an automatically-generated response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government spokesperson stated that legislation is being introduced to outlaw image stripping tools. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who distributed such tools would "be subject to a prison sentence and substantial fines".
"The platform has the ability to stop these types of abuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Regulator Position and Platform Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said technology companies must "evaluate the danger" of people viewing illegal content on their services, but did not confirm whether it was currently looking into X or Grok in relation to AI-generated images.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some premium features—which reacts to X users' queries when they tag it in a message.
It is frequently used to provide reactions or further context to other users' comments, but people on X are also capable of alter an uploaded photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification function.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The tool has been criticised for enabling users to generate images and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was in the past accused of generating sexually explicit material of public figures.
"The platform has been allowing the production and spread of these images for a long time without taking any steps and we have not witnessed any intervention by regulators," the expert added.
XAI's own terms of service prohibits "portraying likenesses of individuals in a pornographic fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was against the law to "create or circulate private pictures or illegal content" and clarified this included sexual deepfakes generated with AI.
It said services such as X were required to take "suitable measures" to "minimize the risk" of users coming across unlawful material on their services and to remove it swiftly when they become aware of it.
