The online network X has sparked widespread anger after users used its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to alter photos of women by taking off their clothing.
Several examples have been seen where the system has been used to remove clothing from female subjects to make them appear in swimwear non-consensually, as well as to insert them in inappropriate contexts.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the organization behind Grok, remained silent to inquiries, other than an auto-reply message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being brought forward to outlaw image stripping technology. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who supplied such tools would "receive a prison sentence and substantial penalties".
"The platform could prevent these types of abuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Oversight Body Position and Tool Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said technology companies must "evaluate the potential" of people accessing unlawful material on their platforms, but stopped short of confirming whether it was presently looking into X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some paid-for features—which reacts to X users' queries when they reference it in a post.
It is often used to give commentary or additional background to other posters' comments, but people on X are also able to edit an uploaded photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.
History of Criticism and Rules
The system has been faulted for enabling users to generate images and footage with explicit content and sexually suggestive content, and it was earlier accused of generating inappropriate material of public figures.
"The platform has been permitting the generation and distribution of these images for a long time without taking any action and we have not seen any intervention by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own usage rules bans "showing likenesses of persons in a graphic fashion".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was illegal to "generate or circulate non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and confirmed this covered sexual deepfakes generated with AI.
It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "appropriate measures" to "lessen the risk" of users coming across unlawful material on their services and to take down it swiftly when they are notified of it.
