The online platform X has caused widespread outrage after individuals utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to change images of women by removing their garments.
Numerous examples have been seen where the technology has been used to digitally undress female subjects to make them appear in swimwear without consent, as well as to place them in sexualized contexts.
Company Reaction and Legal Stance
XAI, the company responsible for Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, except for an auto-reply response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being brought forward to prohibit image stripping software. Under a proposed law, anyone who supplied such technology would "be subject to a prison sentence and substantial fines".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these forms of abuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have impunity."
Oversight Body Position and Platform Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "consider the potential" of people viewing illegal content on their platforms, but stopped short of confirming whether it was currently investigating X or Grok in regarding artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some additional features—which reacts to X users' requests when they reference it in a tweet.
It is frequently used to provide commentary or more context to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also capable of edit an uploaded picture through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The tool has been condemned for allowing users to generate photos and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was previously alleged to have been involved in creating inappropriate content of public figures.
"The platform has been allowing the generation and spread of these images for a long time without taking any steps and we have not seen any action by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own usage rules forbids "depicting likenesses of individuals in a pornographic way".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was against the law to "create or circulate private pictures or child sexual abuse material" and stated this included sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said services such as X were obligated to take "appropriate steps" to "reduce the risk" of users coming across unlawful material on their platforms and to delete it promptly when they become aware of it.
