The online network X has provoked widespread outrage after individuals employed its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to alter images of females by stripping their clothing.
Several cases have emerged where the technology has been used to virtually strip women to make them appear in swimwear without permission, as well as to place them in sexually explicit situations.
Company Reaction and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the firm responsible for Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, except for an auto-reply message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government representative stated that new laws is being proposed to prohibit image stripping tools. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who distributed such technology would "face a prison sentence and substantial fines".
"X or Grok could prevent these forms of misuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Stance and Platform Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "assess the danger" of people accessing illegal content on their networks, but stopped short of confirming whether it was currently investigating X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a no-cost chatbot—with some additional functions—which reacts to X users' requests when they reference it in a post.
It is often used to offer commentary or more background to other users' remarks, but people on X are also capable of alter an uploaded photo through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The system has been faulted for allowing users to produce pictures and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in creating graphic material of public figures.
"X has been permitting the generation and distribution of these images for months without taking any measures and we have yet to see any action by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own usage rules prohibits "portraying likenesses of individuals in a pornographic fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was against the law to "make or circulate private pictures or child sexual abuse material" and clarified this applied to explicit AI images made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were required to take "necessary measures" to "minimize the risk" of users coming across illegal material on their services and to delete it promptly when they are notified of it.
