The online network X has sparked major backlash after people employed its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to change photos of women by removing their clothing.
Multiple instances have been seen where the tool has been used to virtually strip female subjects to render them in swimwear without consent, as well as to insert them in sexually explicit situations.
Company Reaction and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the company responsible for Grok, remained silent to requests for comment, except for an auto-reply message stating "legacy media lies".
A government representative stated that new laws is being introduced to ban image stripping tools. Under a new criminal offence, anyone who provided such technology would "be subject to a prison sentence and substantial penalties".
"X or Grok could prevent these forms of misuse if they wanted to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Oversight Body Stance and Tool Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said technology companies must "assess the danger" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but did not confirm whether it was presently investigating X or Grok in regarding AI-generated pictures.
Grok is a no-cost chatbot—with some paid-for features—which answers X users' prompts when they tag it in a tweet.
It is often used to offer reactions or additional background to other users' remarks, but people on X are also able to alter an posted photo through its AI image editing feature.
Background of Controversy and Rules
The tool has been faulted for permitting users to generate photos and clips with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in generating sexually explicit material of celebrities.
"The platform has been allowing the creation and spread of these pictures for a long time without taking any action and we have not seen any challenge by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy bans "showing images of individuals in a sexually explicit way".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "generate or circulate non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and stated this included explicit AI images made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were required to take "appropriate steps" to "reduce the danger" of users encountering unlawful material on their services and to delete it quickly when they learn of it.
