The social media network X has provoked widespread anger after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to change pictures of females by stripping their attire.
Numerous cases have been seen where the tool has been used to virtually strip female subjects to show them in swimwear without permission, as well as to insert them in inappropriate situations.
Developer Reaction and Legal Stance
XAI, the organization responsible for Grok, offered no comment to requests for comment, except for an standard response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being proposed to prohibit image stripping tools. Under a new law, anyone who supplied such tools would "face a jail term and heavy penalties".
"The platform has the ability to stop these forms of abuse if they wanted to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with a lack of consequences."
Regulator Position and Platform Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said platforms must "consider the risk" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but did not specify whether it was currently investigating X or Grok in concerning AI-generated pictures.
Grok is a free AI assistant—with some premium functions—which reacts to X users' queries when they tag it in a post.
It is commonly used to offer commentary or additional background to other users' remarks, but people on X are also capable of alter an uploaded picture through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.
History of Controversy and Policy
The tool has been criticised for allowing users to create photos and clips with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was earlier accused of creating sexually explicit content of public figures.
"The platform has been permitting the production and distribution of these pictures for a long time without taking any action and we have not seen any challenge by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own usage rules bans "showing images of people in a pornographic fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "make or distribute private pictures or illegal content" and stated this included sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "suitable steps" to "reduce the risk" of users encountering illegal material on their platforms and to remove it quickly when they learn of it.
