The social media platform X has caused major backlash after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to change pictures of females by stripping their attire.
Numerous cases have been seen where the technology has been used to virtually strip female subjects to make them appear in swimwear without permission, as well as to place them in sexualized scenarios.
Company Reaction and Regulatory Position
XAI, the firm responsible for Grok, did not respond to inquiries, other than an standard response stating "legacy media lies".
A government representative stated that new laws is being brought forward to outlaw image stripping tools. Under a upcoming criminal offence, anyone who supplied such technology would "face a prison sentence and substantial penalties".
"X or Grok could prevent these forms of misuse if they wanted to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with impunity."
Oversight Body Stance and Tool Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "consider the risk" of people viewing unlawful material on their platforms, but did not specify whether it was at this time looking into X or Grok in relation to artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some additional functions—which answers X users' requests when they mention it in a message.
It is frequently used to offer reactions or further background to other users' comments, but people on X are also can edit an posted image through its artificial intelligence picture modification function.
History of Criticism and Policy
The tool has been condemned for permitting users to create photos and videos with explicit content and sexualised material, and it was earlier accused of generating inappropriate content of public figures.
"The platform has been allowing the creation and spread of these images for a long time without taking any measures and we have not witnessed any action by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "depicting images of persons in a sexually explicit fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was against the law to "make or share non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and confirmed this covered explicit AI images created with AI.
It said services such as X were obligated to take "appropriate steps" to "reduce the danger" of users viewing illegal material on their platforms and to take down it swiftly when they learn of it.
