The online platform X has sparked widespread anger after individuals used its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate pictures of females by removing their garments.
Numerous cases have emerged where the system has been used to virtually strip female subjects to render them in swimwear without permission, as well as to place them in sexualized contexts.
Developer Response and Regulatory Position
XAI, the firm that created Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, aside from an automatically-generated response stating "legacy media lies".
A government spokesperson stated that new laws is being introduced to outlaw nudification technology. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who distributed such technology would "be subject to a jail term and substantial penalties".
"The platform could prevent these forms of misuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Regulator Stance and Tool Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said tech firms must "consider the potential" of people viewing illegal content on their platforms, but stopped short of confirming whether it was presently investigating X or Grok in regarding artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a free AI assistant—with some paid-for features—which reacts to X users' prompts when they mention it in a post.
It is often used to give reactions or additional context to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also can alter an uploaded image through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The tool has been condemned for permitting users to generate photos and videos with nudity and sexualised material, and it was previously accused of generating graphic content of public figures.
"The platform has been allowing the creation and distribution of these pictures for months without taking any action and we have not witnessed any challenge by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy bans "showing images of individuals in a sexually explicit way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was illegal to "make or share non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and clarified this included sexual deepfakes created with AI.
It said platforms such as X were obligated to take "suitable steps" to "reduce the risk" of users coming across unlawful content on their services and to delete it swiftly when they become aware of it.
