The online network X has provoked significant backlash after users used its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate images of females by removing their attire.
Several cases have surfaced where the technology has been employed to virtually strip female subjects to make them appear in swimwear non-consensually, as well as to put them in sexualized situations.
Developer Response and Regulatory Position
XAI, the organization responsible for Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, other than an standard message stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that new laws is being proposed to prohibit image stripping technology. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who provided such technology would "face a jail term and heavy penalties".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these types of abuse if they wanted to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Regulator Position and Platform Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "consider the potential" of people accessing illegal content on their platforms, but did not confirm whether it was presently investigating X or Grok in concerning AI-generated images.
Grok is a free AI assistant—with some paid-for functions—which reacts to X users' requests when they reference it in a post.
It is frequently used to provide reactions or more background to other users' remarks, but people on X are also able to alter an uploaded photo through its AI image editing feature.
History of Controversy and Rules
The system has been criticised for enabling users to create images and footage with nudity and sexualised material, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in creating sexually explicit material of celebrities.
"The platform has been permitting the generation and spread of these images for months without taking any measures and we have yet to see any challenge by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "depicting likenesses of people in a sexually explicit way".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was against the law to "create or circulate non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and confirmed this included sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said networks such as X were required to take "appropriate steps" to "reduce the risk" of users viewing unlawful material on their platforms and to take down it promptly when they learn of it.
