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The online network X has sparked significant outrage after individuals used its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to change pictures of females by removing their clothing.

Multiple cases have been seen where the tool has been employed to digitally undress women to make them appear in swimwear without consent, as well as to put them in sexualized contexts.

Company Response and Legal Position

XAI, the organization behind Grok, remained silent to questions, aside from an auto-reply message stating "traditional news outlets lies".

A government official stated that new laws is being proposed to prohibit nudification technology. Under a proposed law, anyone who distributed such technology would "be subject to a jail term and heavy fines".

"X or Grok could prevent these types of misuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have impunity."

Oversight Body Stance and Tool Functionality

The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "evaluate the danger" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but did not confirm whether it was presently investigating X or Grok in relation to AI-generated pictures.

Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some paid-for features—which reacts to X users' requests when they tag it in a post.

It is frequently used to give reactions or further background to other users' remarks, but people on X are also capable of alter an uploaded picture through its AI image editing tool.

Background of Criticism and Policy

The tool has been faulted for enabling users to generate photos and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was in the past accused of creating graphic content of public figures.

"X has been enabling the generation and distribution of these pictures for a long time without taking any action and we have yet to see any intervention by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.

XAI's own acceptable use policy prohibits "portraying likenesses of individuals in a graphic manner".

In a statement, Ofcom said it was illegal to "create or circulate private pictures or child sexual abuse material" and clarified this covered sexual deepfakes made with AI.

It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "suitable measures" to "lessen the danger" of users coming across illegal material on their platforms and to remove it swiftly when they become aware of it.