The online network X has provoked significant outrage after users used its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate photos of females by stripping their attire.
Multiple examples have emerged where the technology has been employed to remove clothing from women to render them in swimwear without permission, as well as to place them in sexually explicit scenarios.
Company Response and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the organization that created Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, other than an standard message stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being introduced to prohibit nudification software. Under a upcoming law, anyone who distributed such technology would "receive a prison sentence and significant penalties".
"The platform is capable of halting these forms of misuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with impunity."
Oversight Body Stance and Tool Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said platforms must "consider the danger" of people accessing unlawful material on their platforms, but did not confirm whether it was at this time examining X or Grok in regarding artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some premium functions—which responds to X users' requests when they tag it in a post.
It is commonly used to provide commentary or more background to other posters' comments, but people on X are also can modify an posted picture through its AI image editing tool.
History of Criticism and Rules
The tool has been criticised for permitting users to produce images and footage with explicit content and sexually suggestive material, and it was in the past accused of making graphic content of public figures.
"The platform has been allowing the production and distribution of these pictures for a long time without taking any steps and we have not seen any challenge by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own terms of service prohibits "showing likenesses of individuals in a pornographic manner".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "generate or share deepfakes or child sexual abuse material" and stated this included explicit AI images created with AI.
It said networks such as X were obligated to take "necessary steps" to "reduce the danger" of users encountering unlawful material on their services and to delete it promptly when they become aware of it.
