The online network X has sparked widespread backlash after individuals used its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to change pictures of females by stripping their garments.
Several cases have surfaced where the technology has been used to virtually strip female subjects to make them appear in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to put them in sexualized scenarios.
Company Response and Regulatory Position
XAI, the company responsible for Grok, offered no comment to inquiries, aside from an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government representative stated that new laws is being proposed to outlaw image stripping tools. Under a proposed law, anyone who distributed such tools would "receive a jail term and substantial penalties".
"X or Grok could prevent these types of abuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Regulator Position and Platform Functionality
The regulator Ofcom said tech firms must "consider the potential" of people accessing unlawful material on their networks, but did not specify whether it was presently looking into X or Grok in regarding artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some premium functions—which reacts to X users' queries when they mention it in a tweet.
It is often used to give reactions or additional background to other users' remarks, but people on X are also can edit an uploaded photo through its AI image editing function.
Background of Controversy and Rules
The chatbot has been condemned for enabling users to produce pictures and footage with explicit content and sexually suggestive material, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in generating graphic material of public figures.
"X has been allowing the generation and spread of these images for months without taking any measures and we have not seen any challenge by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own usage rules forbids "portraying likenesses of individuals in a sexually explicit way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "create or distribute private pictures or child sexual abuse material" and clarified this included explicit AI images created with AI.
It said platforms such as X were required to take "necessary measures" to "lessen the risk" of users viewing unlawful material on their services and to remove it swiftly when they become aware of it.
