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The online platform X has provoked widespread anger after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to alter photos of women by removing their garments.

Several examples have been seen where the tool has been employed to virtually strip women to show them in swimwear non-consensually, as well as to place them in sexually explicit contexts.

Company Response and Regulatory Position

XAI, the company behind Grok, did not respond to inquiries, except for an auto-reply message stating "traditional news outlets lies".

A government representative stated that new laws is being brought forward to prohibit nudification tools. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who supplied such tools would "be subject to a jail term and heavy penalties".

"X or Grok has the ability to stop these types of misuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."

Regulator Position and Tool Functionality

The communications watchdog Ofcom said technology companies must "assess the danger" of people accessing unlawful material on their networks, but stopped short of confirming whether it was at this time investigating X or Grok in concerning AI-generated images.

Grok is a free AI assistant—with some premium functions—which answers X users' requests when they mention it in a post.

It is frequently used to offer reactions or additional context to other users' remarks, but people on X are also capable of edit an posted photo through its AI image editing feature.

Background of Criticism and Rules

The system has been faulted for permitting users to generate photos and clips with nudity and sexualised content, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in making graphic content of public figures.

"X has been allowing the production and distribution of these pictures for months without taking any action and we have not witnessed any intervention by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.

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

In a comment, Ofcom said it was illegal to "generate or circulate private pictures or illegal content" and clarified this covered sexual deepfakes created with AI.

It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "suitable measures" to "reduce the risk" of users viewing unlawful content on their services and to take down it quickly when they become aware of it.