The online network X has caused widespread backlash after users used its AI chatbot Grok to change pictures of women by taking off their clothing.
Multiple examples have been seen where the tool has been used to digitally undress female subjects to render them in swimwear without consent, as well as to place them in inappropriate scenarios.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the firm responsible for Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, aside from an automatically-generated response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government spokesperson stated that legislation is being proposed to outlaw nudification software. Under a new law, anyone who provided such tools would "face a prison sentence and significant fines".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these types of abuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "operate with a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Position and Platform Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "assess the potential" of people accessing unlawful material on their networks, but did not specify whether it was currently examining X or Grok in relation to AI-generated images.
Grok is a no-cost chatbot—with some additional features—which answers X users' queries when they mention it in a tweet.
It is often used to give commentary or more context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also can alter an uploaded photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification function.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The chatbot has been faulted for enabling users to produce images and videos with explicit content and sexualised content, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in making sexually explicit content of celebrities.
"The platform has been allowing the production and sharing of these images for a long time without taking any steps and we have yet to see any action by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy prohibits "portraying likenesses of people in a pornographic manner".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was illegal to "generate or distribute private pictures or illegal content" and stated this applied to sexual deepfakes created with AI.
It said services such as X were obligated to take "suitable measures" to "lessen the danger" of users viewing illegal content on their services and to delete it swiftly when they become aware of it.
