The online network X has provoked significant backlash after individuals utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to change images of females by taking off their attire.
Numerous cases have emerged where the technology has been used to remove clothing from female subjects to render them in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to place them in sexualized contexts.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the organization that created Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, other than an standard response stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being introduced to prohibit nudification tools. Under a upcoming criminal offence, anyone who supplied such technology would "face a jail term and substantial fines".
"X or Grok could prevent these forms of misuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Position and Tool Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said platforms must "consider the danger" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but did not confirm whether it was at this time looking into X or Grok in regarding artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some paid-for features—which answers X users' requests when they tag it in a message.
It is frequently used to provide commentary or additional background to other users' comments, but people on X are also can modify an uploaded picture through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.
Background of Criticism and Policy
The system has been criticised for enabling users to produce images and clips with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in creating sexually explicit material of celebrities.
"The platform has been allowing the production and spread of these pictures for months without taking any steps and we have not seen any challenge by regulators," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "showing images of persons in a graphic way".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "create or circulate deepfakes or child sexual abuse material" and confirmed this included sexual deepfakes generated with AI.
It said platforms such as X were required to take "appropriate actions" to "minimize the danger" of users viewing illegal material on their services and to take down it swiftly when they are notified of it.
