The online platform X has caused major backlash after individuals utilized its AI chatbot Grok to change photos of women by stripping their clothing.
Several examples have emerged where the tool has been used to digitally undress female subjects to show them in swimwear without consent, as well as to put them in sexually explicit scenarios.
Developer Response and Legal Position
XAI, the organization behind Grok, remained silent to questions, aside from an auto-reply message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A Home Office representative stated that legislation is being proposed to outlaw image stripping tools. Under a new law, anyone who provided such technology would "be subject to a prison sentence and substantial fines".
"The platform could prevent these forms of abuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with a lack of consequences."
Regulator Position and Tool Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "consider the danger" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but stopped short of confirming whether it was presently examining X or Grok in relation to artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a no-cost chatbot—with some additional features—which responds to X users' requests when they reference it in a post.
It is often used to give commentary or more context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also capable of alter an uploaded photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.
Background of Criticism and Policy
The chatbot has been criticised for allowing users to create pictures and clips with explicit content and sexualised content, and it was previously alleged to have been involved in generating graphic material of public figures.
"X has been enabling the generation and distribution of these images for a long time without taking any action and we have yet to see any intervention by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy prohibits "depicting likenesses of individuals in a pornographic fashion".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "make or share non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and stated this covered sexual deepfakes created with AI.
It said networks such as X were mandated to take "necessary steps" to "lessen the risk" of users encountering unlawful content on their services and to take down it quickly when they are notified of it.
