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The online network X has caused significant backlash after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to alter pictures of women by taking off their garments.

Several cases have surfaced where the tool has been used to virtually strip female subjects to show them in swimwear without consent, as well as to place them in sexualized situations.

Company Reaction and Legal Position

XAI, the firm behind Grok, remained silent to requests for comment, aside from an auto-reply response stating "traditional news outlets lies".

A government representative stated that legislation is being introduced to prohibit nudification technology. Under a upcoming law, anyone who supplied such technology would "face a jail term and significant penalties".

"The platform could prevent these forms of misuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "operate with a lack of consequences."

Oversight Body Stance and Platform Functionality

The regulator Ofcom said technology companies must "assess the danger" of people accessing unlawful material on their networks, but did not confirm whether it was currently examining X or Grok in relation to AI-generated images.

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

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

Background of Controversy and Rules

The tool has been faulted for enabling users to generate images and clips with explicit content and sexualised content, and it was in the past accused of creating graphic content of public figures.

"The platform has been permitting the creation and sharing of these pictures for a long time without taking any measures and we have not seen any action by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.

XAI's own usage rules prohibits "showing images of persons in a graphic fashion".

In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "make or share non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and clarified this covered sexual deepfakes created with AI.

It said platforms such as X were obligated to take "suitable steps" to "reduce the risk" of users viewing illegal material on their services and to take down it swiftly when they are notified of it.