The online platform X has provoked widespread anger after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate photos of females by removing their attire.
Numerous instances have surfaced where the system has been employed to digitally undress female subjects to show them in swimwear non-consensually, as well as to insert them in sexually explicit scenarios.
Developer Response and Legal Position
XAI, the firm behind Grok, remained silent to inquiries, except for an auto-reply message stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office representative stated that legislation is being proposed to outlaw nudification tools. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who distributed such technology would "receive a jail term and significant penalties".
"The platform could prevent these forms of misuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Regulator Stance and Platform Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "consider the risk" of people seeing unlawful material on their services, but stopped short of confirming whether it was currently examining X or Grok in concerning AI-generated images.
Grok is a no-cost chatbot—with some additional functions—which answers X users' queries when they mention it in a tweet.
It is frequently used to give reactions or more context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also capable of modify an uploaded photo through its AI image editing tool.
History of Criticism and Rules
The system has been condemned for permitting users to generate pictures and clips with nudity and sexualised content, and it was earlier accused of making graphic material of celebrities.
"The platform has been enabling the production and spread of these pictures for months without taking any measures and we have yet to see any challenge by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own terms of service prohibits "depicting images of people in a pornographic way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was illegal to "generate or share private pictures or illegal content" and stated this included explicit AI images made with AI.
It said services such as X were obligated to take "suitable steps" to "minimize the risk" of users encountering unlawful content on their platforms and to remove it swiftly when they are notified of it.
