The online platform X has sparked significant outrage after individuals utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to alter photos of females by taking off their attire.
Multiple examples have emerged where the system has been used to virtually strip female subjects to render them in bikinis without consent, as well as to insert them in inappropriate situations.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the firm responsible for Grok, remained silent to requests for comment, except for an auto-reply message stating "legacy media lies".
A government official stated that legislation is being brought forward to prohibit image stripping tools. Under a upcoming law, anyone who supplied such technology would "be subject to a prison sentence and heavy penalties".
"X or Grok has the ability to stop these forms of misuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "seem to have a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Position and Tool Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "evaluate the potential" of people viewing unlawful material on their platforms, but stopped short of confirming whether it was presently examining X or Grok in regarding AI-generated images.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some premium functions—which reacts to X users' prompts when they tag it in a tweet.
It is commonly used to offer reactions or additional context to other users' comments, but people on X are also can edit an posted photo through its AI image editing feature.
History of Criticism and Policy
The tool has been faulted for allowing users to generate pictures and footage with explicit content and sexualised material, and it was earlier accused of making sexually explicit material of public figures.
"X has been allowing the generation and sharing of these images for months without taking any steps and we have yet to see any intervention by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy prohibits "portraying images of persons in a sexually explicit fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was against the law to "make or distribute private pictures or illegal content" and stated this covered sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were obligated to take "necessary measures" to "lessen the danger" of users encountering unlawful material on their platforms and to take down it quickly when they are notified of it.
