The online network X has caused widespread backlash after individuals used its AI chatbot Grok to alter images of females by stripping their clothing.
Multiple examples have surfaced where the tool has been used to virtually strip women to show them in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to insert them in inappropriate situations.
Developer Response and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the firm that created Grok, remained silent to questions, except for an standard message stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being brought forward to ban nudification software. Under a proposed law, anyone who supplied such technology would "face a prison sentence and significant penalties".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these types of misuse if they wanted to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Regulator Stance and Platform Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said technology companies must "evaluate the risk" of people viewing illegal content on their networks, but stopped short of confirming whether it was at this time examining X or Grok in regarding AI-generated pictures.
Grok is a no-cost chatbot—with some additional features—which reacts to X users' queries when they mention it in a message.
It is often used to provide commentary or further context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also can alter an posted picture through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.
Background of Criticism and Policy
The chatbot has been criticised for allowing users to create images and footage with explicit content and sexually suggestive content, and it was earlier accused of generating inappropriate content of celebrities.
"X has been enabling the production and distribution of these images for months without taking any steps and we have not seen any intervention by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy bans "portraying likenesses of people in a graphic way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "make or circulate private pictures or illegal content" and stated this covered explicit AI images generated with AI.
It said networks such as X were required to take "necessary actions" to "reduce the risk" of users encountering illegal material on their platforms and to delete it quickly when they are notified of it.
