The online network X has caused major backlash after users used its AI chatbot Grok to change photos of females by taking off their garments.
Several instances have surfaced where the technology has been used to virtually strip female subjects to show them in bikinis without permission, as well as to place them in sexualized contexts.
Developer Response and Legal Position
XAI, the firm responsible for Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, except for an standard message stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being introduced to outlaw nudification technology. Under a upcoming law, anyone who supplied such tools would "face a prison sentence and significant fines".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these forms of abuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "seem to have a lack of consequences."
Regulator Stance and Platform Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "consider the danger" of people accessing illegal content on their networks, but did not confirm whether it was currently examining X or Grok in regarding AI-generated images.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some premium functions—which responds to X users' prompts when they tag it in a tweet.
It is commonly used to provide commentary or further context to other users' comments, but people on X are also able to alter an uploaded photo through its AI image editing function.
Background of Controversy and Rules
The tool has been condemned for enabling users to produce images and clips with nudity and sexualised content, and it was in the past accused of creating sexually explicit content of public figures.
"X has been allowing the creation and spread of these images for months without taking any steps and we have not witnessed any intervention by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own terms of service bans "portraying likenesses of individuals in a graphic way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "make or circulate private pictures or illegal content" and clarified this applied to explicit AI images generated with AI.
It said services such as X were obligated to take "suitable measures" to "minimize the danger" of users encountering unlawful material on their platforms and to delete it quickly when they are notified of it.
