The social media platform X has provoked major backlash after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to change pictures of females by taking off their clothing.
Multiple cases have surfaced where the tool has been used to remove clothing from female subjects to render them in swimwear without permission, as well as to insert them in sexually explicit scenarios.
Developer Response and Legal Stance
XAI, the organization that created Grok, remained silent to requests for comment, except for an automatically-generated message stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that new laws is being proposed to outlaw image stripping software. Under a upcoming law, anyone who provided such technology would "receive a jail term and significant penalties".
"The platform has the ability to stop these forms of misuse if they chose to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Regulator Stance and Platform Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said technology companies must "consider the potential" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but stopped short of confirming whether it was at this time examining X or Grok in relation to artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some paid-for features—which reacts to X users' requests when they mention it in a tweet.
It is frequently used to give reactions or further background to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also able to alter an posted picture through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.
Background of Controversy and Policy
The tool has been criticised for permitting users to create photos and clips with explicit content and sexualised content, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in making inappropriate material of public figures.
"X has been enabling the production and spread of these images for a long time without taking any action and we have not witnessed any challenge by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own usage rules forbids "showing likenesses of individuals in a graphic manner".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "create or share deepfakes or illegal content" and confirmed this covered sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said services such as X were mandated to take "necessary measures" to "reduce the danger" of users viewing illegal material on their services and to take down it swiftly when they are notified of it.
