The online platform X has sparked major outrage after people utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to change photos of females by taking off their clothing.
Numerous cases have been seen where the technology has been used to virtually strip female subjects to make them appear in swimwear without permission, as well as to insert them in sexually explicit scenarios.
Developer Response and Regulatory Position
XAI, the organization that created Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, except for an auto-reply response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government spokesperson stated that legislation is being brought forward to prohibit image stripping software. Under a proposed law, anyone who supplied such technology would "be subject to a jail term and significant penalties".
"X or Grok has the ability to stop these types of abuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Position and Tool Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said technology companies must "evaluate the risk" of people accessing illegal content on their services, but did not confirm whether it was presently examining X or Grok in regarding AI-generated pictures.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some premium features—which responds to X users' queries when they mention it in a post.
It is commonly used to offer commentary or additional background to other users' comments, but people on X are also can modify an uploaded image through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Criticism and Policy
The tool has been condemned for allowing users to produce photos and footage with explicit content and sexualised content, and it was earlier accused of making sexually explicit material of public figures.
"X has been permitting the production and sharing of these images for a long time without taking any steps and we have not witnessed any action by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy prohibits "showing likenesses of people in a sexually explicit fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "make or share private pictures or illegal content" and confirmed this applied to sexual deepfakes generated with AI.
It said networks such as X were required to take "necessary actions" to "lessen the danger" of users coming across unlawful material on their platforms and to delete it quickly when they learn of it.
