The online network X has sparked widespread outrage after people employed its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to change images of women by stripping their attire.
Several examples have been seen where the technology has been used to virtually strip female subjects to show them in swimwear non-consensually, as well as to insert them in inappropriate situations.
Company Reaction and Legal Position
XAI, the firm behind Grok, did not respond to inquiries, other than an auto-reply response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government representative stated that legislation is being proposed to prohibit image stripping software. Under a proposed law, anyone who supplied such technology would "be subject to a prison sentence and heavy fines".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these types of abuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "seem to have a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Position and Platform Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "evaluate the danger" of people viewing unlawful material on their networks, but did not specify whether it was presently examining X or Grok in relation to artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some premium functions—which reacts to X users' requests when they reference it in a post.
It is often used to give reactions or additional context to other users' remarks, but people on X are also able to alter an uploaded picture through its AI image editing feature.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The tool has been faulted for enabling users to produce pictures and footage with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in making inappropriate material of celebrities.
"X has been permitting the production and distribution of these images for months without taking any steps and we have not witnessed any action by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy bans "showing images of people in a graphic manner".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was illegal to "generate or distribute non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and confirmed this applied to explicit AI images made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were required to take "appropriate measures" to "minimize the risk" of users coming across unlawful content on their platforms and to delete it swiftly when they learn of it.