The online network X has sparked widespread outrage after users used its AI chatbot Grok to change pictures of women by removing their garments.
Numerous cases have surfaced where the tool has been used to virtually strip women to make them appear in swimwear without consent, as well as to insert them in inappropriate scenarios.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Position
XAI, the company responsible for Grok, did not respond to inquiries, other than an auto-reply message stating "legacy media lies".
A government spokesperson stated that legislation is being brought forward to outlaw nudification software. Under a proposed law, anyone who supplied such technology would "be subject to a prison sentence and heavy fines".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these types of abuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Oversight Body Position and Tool Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said technology companies must "consider the potential" of people viewing illegal content on their platforms, but did not specify whether it was at this time looking into X or Grok in concerning AI-generated images.
Grok is a free AI assistant—with some paid-for functions—which answers X users' requests when they reference it in a tweet.
It is often used to provide reactions or more background to other posters' comments, but people on X are also able to alter an posted picture through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The system has been condemned for enabling users to create pictures and videos with nudity and sexualised material, and it was previously alleged to have been involved in making graphic content of celebrities.
"The platform has been permitting the creation and spread of these pictures for a long time without taking any measures and we have not witnessed any action by regulators," the expert added.
XAI's own usage rules prohibits "showing images of people in a graphic fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was against the law to "make or distribute deepfakes or illegal content" and clarified this applied to sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "suitable actions" to "lessen the risk" of users encountering illegal material on their platforms and to take down it quickly when they are notified of it.
