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The online network X has caused major backlash after individuals used its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to manipulate photos of females by removing their garments.

Numerous cases have emerged where the system has been employed to virtually strip women to make them appear in swimwear non-consensually, as well as to place them in sexualized scenarios.

Company Reaction and Regulatory Stance

XAI, the organization behind Grok, remained silent to requests for comment, except for an standard response stating "traditional news outlets lies".

A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being introduced to prohibit image stripping tools. Under a upcoming law, anyone who supplied such tools would "face a jail term and substantial fines".

"X or Grok could prevent these forms of abuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have impunity."

Regulator Position and Tool Functionality

The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "consider the potential" of people seeing illegal content on their platforms, but did not specify whether it was currently examining X or Grok in concerning AI-generated images.

Grok is a free AI assistant—with some paid-for functions—which answers X users' queries when they reference it in a tweet.

It is frequently used to provide commentary or further background to other users' remarks, but people on X are also capable of modify an uploaded picture through its AI image editing feature.

Background of Criticism and Rules

The tool has been condemned for permitting users to create images and footage with nudity and sexualised content, and it was earlier accused of making inappropriate material of public figures.

"The platform has been permitting the generation and distribution of these pictures for a long time without taking any action and we have not witnessed any challenge by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.

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

In a comment, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "generate or share non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and stated this included explicit AI images generated with AI.

It said services such as X were required to take "suitable measures" to "minimize the danger" of users viewing unlawful content on their services and to remove it promptly when they learn of it.