The online network X has provoked major anger after individuals used its AI chatbot Grok to change pictures of females by stripping their clothing.
Multiple instances have been seen where the tool has been used to virtually strip female subjects to render them in swimwear non-consensually, as well as to insert them in inappropriate situations.
Company Response and Regulatory Position
XAI, the firm responsible for Grok, did not respond to inquiries, except for an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government official stated that legislation is being introduced to prohibit nudification software. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who supplied such technology would "be subject to a jail term and heavy penalties".
"The platform has the ability to stop these types of abuse if they chose to," said a law professor, adding they "seem to have a lack of consequences."
Regulator Stance and Tool Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "consider the danger" of people viewing unlawful material on their platforms, but did not specify whether it was currently examining X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some paid-for functions—which answers X users' requests when they mention it in a message.
It is often used to provide reactions or more context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also capable of modify an posted photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The chatbot has been criticised for enabling users to produce pictures and videos with explicit content and sexually suggestive material, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in generating inappropriate content of public figures.
"The platform has been permitting the generation and sharing 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 usage rules prohibits "showing images of persons in a graphic fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was against the law to "generate or distribute private pictures or child sexual abuse material" and confirmed this applied to sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were obligated to take "necessary steps" to "lessen the risk" of users viewing illegal content on their platforms and to delete it promptly when they become aware of it.
