The online network X has provoked widespread outrage after individuals utilized its AI chatbot Grok to alter pictures of females by taking off their clothing.
Multiple examples have been seen where the system has been employed to remove clothing from women to make them appear in bikinis without consent, as well as to insert them in inappropriate situations.
Company Reaction and Legal Position
XAI, the organization behind Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, aside from an standard response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being proposed to ban nudification software. Under a new law, anyone who supplied such tools would "be subject to a prison sentence and heavy penalties".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these forms of misuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Stance and Platform Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said platforms must "assess the risk" of people viewing illegal content on their services, but did not confirm whether it was currently looking into X or Grok in regarding AI-generated pictures.
Grok is a no-cost chatbot—with some paid-for functions—which responds to X users' prompts when they mention it in a tweet.
It is commonly used to give reactions or more background to other posters' comments, but people on X are also able to alter an posted image through its AI image editing tool.
History of Criticism and Policy
The chatbot has been condemned for permitting users to generate photos and clips with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was previously accused of generating inappropriate material of celebrities.
"X has been enabling the generation and distribution of these images for months without taking any steps and we have not witnessed any action by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own terms of service forbids "portraying likenesses of individuals in a graphic fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "create or circulate private pictures or illegal content" and confirmed this covered sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said services such as X were mandated to take "suitable actions" to "lessen the risk" of users viewing unlawful material on their platforms and to remove it promptly when they are notified of it.
