The online network X has provoked major backlash after users utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to manipulate pictures of females by removing their attire.
Multiple examples have emerged where the system has been used to digitally undress female subjects to render them in swimwear without permission, as well as to insert them in inappropriate scenarios.
Developer Reaction and Legal Stance
XAI, the firm that created Grok, remained silent to requests for comment, except for an automatically-generated message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government representative stated that legislation is being proposed to ban nudification tools. Under a new criminal offence, anyone who distributed such technology would "face a jail term and heavy fines".
"The platform could prevent these types of misuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "operate with impunity."
Regulator Stance and Platform Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said tech firms must "consider the danger" of people accessing unlawful material on their networks, but did not specify whether it was currently examining X or Grok in relation to artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a no-cost chatbot—with some additional functions—which reacts to X users' requests when they reference it in a post.
It is commonly used to provide reactions or additional context to other users' comments, but people on X are also able to alter an uploaded image through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The system has been faulted for enabling users to create images and clips with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in making sexually explicit content of public figures.
"The platform has been allowing the creation and spread of these images for a long time without taking any steps and we have yet to see any intervention by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "depicting images of individuals in a graphic fashion".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was illegal to "make or distribute deepfakes or illegal content" and confirmed this covered explicit AI images generated with AI.
It said networks such as X were obligated to take "necessary measures" to "reduce the danger" of users encountering illegal content on their platforms and to delete it swiftly when they become aware of it.
