The online platform X has provoked widespread anger after users utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to alter images of women by stripping their attire.
Several examples have surfaced where the technology has been used to digitally undress female subjects to show them in bikinis without consent, as well as to place them in sexualized scenarios.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the firm behind Grok, remained silent to inquiries, aside from an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government official stated that new laws is being introduced to outlaw nudification technology. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who supplied such tools would "be subject to a prison sentence and significant penalties".
"X or Grok could prevent these types of misuse if they wanted to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Regulator Position and Tool Functionality
The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "consider the potential" of people accessing illegal content on their services, but did not confirm whether it was currently looking into X or Grok in regarding artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some premium functions—which reacts to X users' queries when they tag it in a post.
It is often used to give reactions or additional background to other users' comments, but people on X are also capable of modify an uploaded image through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The chatbot has been criticised for enabling users to create photos and footage with explicit content and sexualised material, and it was in the past accused of generating inappropriate content of celebrities.
"The platform has been permitting the creation and spread of these pictures for a long time without taking any measures and we have not seen any challenge by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own usage rules prohibits "depicting images of individuals in a sexually explicit manner".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "generate or circulate non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and confirmed this included sexual deepfakes created with AI.
It said platforms such as X were obligated to take "suitable steps" to "minimize the danger" of users encountering illegal content on their platforms and to remove it swiftly when they become aware of it.
