The online network X has caused significant outrage after users employed its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate photos of females by removing their attire.
Numerous cases have surfaced where the system has been employed to virtually strip female subjects to render them in bikinis without consent, as well as to place them in sexualized situations.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Position
XAI, the company behind Grok, remained silent to requests for comment, aside from an auto-reply response stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office official stated that legislation is being introduced to ban image stripping technology. Under a proposed law, anyone who distributed such technology would "receive a prison sentence and heavy penalties".
"The platform has the ability to stop these types of misuse if they chose to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Regulator Stance and Platform Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said technology companies must "evaluate the danger" of people accessing illegal content on their platforms, but did not confirm whether it was at this time examining X or Grok in regarding AI-generated pictures.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some additional functions—which reacts to X users' requests when they mention it in a message.
It is often used to offer commentary or additional background to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also capable of edit an posted photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification function.
Background of Controversy and Rules
The tool has been faulted for enabling users to generate images and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was in the past accused of generating graphic content of public figures.
"X has been allowing the creation and distribution of these images for months without taking any action and we have not witnessed any intervention by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own terms of service prohibits "portraying images of people in a pornographic way".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was against the law to "make or circulate private pictures or illegal content" and stated this included sexual deepfakes generated with AI.
It said platforms such as X were obligated to take "suitable steps" to "minimize the danger" of users viewing illegal material on their platforms and to take down it quickly when they are notified of it.
