The online network X has sparked major outrage after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate images of females by stripping their garments.
Multiple cases have been seen where the system has been used to remove clothing from women to show them in bikinis without permission, as well as to insert them in inappropriate scenarios.
Company Response and Legal Stance
XAI, the firm responsible for Grok, remained silent to requests for comment, aside from an automatically-generated response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government spokesperson stated that new laws is being introduced to prohibit nudification technology. Under a new law, anyone who provided such tools would "be subject to a prison sentence and heavy fines".
"The platform could prevent these types of misuse if they wanted to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have a lack of consequences."
Regulator Position and Tool Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said technology companies must "assess the danger" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but did not specify whether it was at this time examining X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some premium functions—which responds to X users' prompts when they tag it in a message.
It is commonly used to give reactions or more context to other users' remarks, but people on X are also capable of alter an posted picture through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Controversy and Rules
The system has been criticised for permitting users to generate photos and clips with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in generating sexually explicit content of public figures.
"The platform has been allowing the production and sharing of these images for a long time without taking any action and we have not witnessed any intervention by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy prohibits "depicting likenesses of individuals in a graphic fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was against the law to "make or circulate deepfakes or illegal content" and clarified this included explicit AI images made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were required to take "appropriate actions" to "reduce the risk" of users coming across illegal material on their services and to delete it promptly when they become aware of it.
