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The online platform X has provoked significant anger after individuals used its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate images of females by stripping their garments.

Numerous instances have been seen where the system has been used to digitally undress female subjects to make them appear in bikinis without permission, as well as to insert them in inappropriate contexts.

Developer Reaction and Legal Position

XAI, the firm responsible for Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, other than an standard response stating "traditional news outlets lies".

A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being introduced to ban nudification technology. Under a new criminal offence, anyone who distributed such technology would "face a prison sentence and heavy fines".

"The platform has the ability to stop these forms of misuse if they chose to," said a law professor, adding they "operate with impunity."

Regulator Stance and Tool Functionality

The communications watchdog Ofcom said platforms must "assess the potential" of people viewing illegal content on their services, 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 responds to X users' requests when they mention it in a post.

It is commonly used to give commentary or further context to other users' remarks, but people on X are also able to modify an uploaded photo through its AI image editing feature.

Background of Criticism and Rules

The chatbot has been condemned for allowing users to create photos and clips with explicit content and sexualised material, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in creating graphic content of celebrities.

"X has been allowing the creation and spread of these pictures for months without taking any steps and we have yet to see any challenge by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.

XAI's own usage rules prohibits "portraying images of persons in a graphic way".

In a statement, Ofcom said it was illegal to "create or share non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and stated this covered sexual deepfakes generated with AI.

It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "necessary measures" to "minimize the danger" of users viewing illegal material on their services and to remove it promptly when they are notified of it.