The online network X has sparked widespread backlash after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to change images of females by removing their attire.
Several examples have been seen where the system has been used to digitally undress women to render them in swimwear without consent, as well as to insert them in inappropriate contexts.
Developer Response and Legal Position
XAI, the firm that created Grok, offered no comment to inquiries, aside from an auto-reply message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government official stated that new laws is being introduced to prohibit nudification software. Under a upcoming criminal offence, anyone who provided such tools would "face a jail term and substantial fines".
"X or Grok could prevent these forms of abuse if they chose to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Regulator Stance and Tool Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said technology companies must "assess the risk" of people accessing illegal content on their services, but did not confirm whether it was currently looking into X or Grok in relation to artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some additional features—which responds to X users' queries when they reference it in a tweet.
It is often used to provide commentary or further background to other users' remarks, but people on X are also able to alter an posted image through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The system has been faulted for allowing users to produce photos and videos with explicit content and sexualised content, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in making inappropriate content of celebrities.
"The platform has been permitting the production and sharing of these images for a long time without taking any steps and we have yet to see any intervention by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own terms of service forbids "showing images of people in a graphic way".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was illegal to "create or circulate non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and confirmed this covered explicit AI images made with AI.
It said services such as X were obligated to take "appropriate measures" to "lessen the risk" of users viewing unlawful content on their platforms and to take down it swiftly when they are notified of it.
