The online platform X has caused widespread backlash after users utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to alter photos of females by stripping their clothing.
Numerous cases have surfaced where the system has been employed to digitally undress women to render them in swimwear non-consensually, as well as to insert them in sexually explicit scenarios.
Developer Response and Legal Position
XAI, the organization that created Grok, offered no comment to requests for comment, except for an automatically-generated message stating "legacy media lies".
A government spokesperson stated that new laws is being brought forward to outlaw image stripping tools. Under a upcoming criminal offence, anyone who distributed such technology would "receive a prison sentence and heavy fines".
"X or Grok has the ability to stop these types of misuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with impunity."
Regulator Stance and Platform Functionality
The regulator Ofcom said technology companies must "evaluate the potential" of people viewing unlawful material on their networks, but did not confirm whether it was presently examining X or Grok in concerning AI-generated images.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some paid-for features—which reacts to X users' queries when they mention it in a post.
It is often used to give reactions or further context to other users' remarks, but people on X are also able to edit an uploaded picture through its AI image editing function.
Background of Controversy and Rules
The system has been criticised for allowing users to create photos and footage with explicit content and sexually suggestive material, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in generating sexually explicit material of celebrities.
"X has been permitting the generation and spread of these pictures for a long time without taking any action and we have not witnessed any action by regulators," the expert added.
XAI's own usage rules forbids "showing images of persons in a pornographic manner".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was against the law to "create or circulate deepfakes or child sexual abuse material" and clarified this included sexual deepfakes generated with AI.
It said services such as X were obligated to take "appropriate steps" to "minimize the danger" of users viewing unlawful material on their services and to take down it promptly when they become aware of it.
