The online network X has provoked widespread anger after people utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to change pictures of women by removing their clothing.
Multiple cases have surfaced where the technology has been used to remove clothing from female subjects to show them in bikinis without consent, as well as to put them in sexually explicit scenarios.
Developer Response and Legal Position
XAI, the firm that created Grok, remained silent to questions, aside from an standard response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government representative stated that legislation is being brought forward to ban nudification tools. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who provided such technology would "face a prison sentence and substantial penalties".
"The platform could prevent these types of misuse if they wanted to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with a lack of consequences."
Regulator Position and Tool Functionality
The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "evaluate the risk" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but stopped short of confirming whether it was currently examining X or Grok in regarding artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some additional functions—which reacts to X users' queries when they mention it in a post.
It is often used to offer reactions or more context to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also can alter an uploaded photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.
Background of Controversy and Rules
The system has been criticised for permitting users to generate photos and footage with explicit content and sexualised content, and it was earlier accused of creating inappropriate content of public figures.
"X has been enabling the production and spread of these images for months without taking any measures and we have not seen any challenge by regulators," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy prohibits "depicting images of people in a pornographic manner".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was against the law to "generate or circulate deepfakes or child sexual abuse material" and stated this covered explicit AI images created with AI.
It said platforms such as X were obligated to take "appropriate measures" to "minimize the risk" of users viewing illegal content on their services and to remove it quickly when they are notified of it.
