Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has urged Elon Musk’s X to address the troubling use of its artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, in generating non-consensual sexualized images of women and girls. Kendall’s comments come after numerous reports surfaced about users prompting Grok to digitally undress individuals without their consent, placing them in sexual contexts. She described the situation as “absolutely appalling” and emphasized that the proliferation of degrading images cannot be tolerated.
The BBC has documented multiple instances where users asked Grok to alter images, leading to the creation of inappropriate content. In response, X asserted its commitment to tackling illegal content, including child sexual abuse material, stating that accounts violating these policies would face permanent suspension. X reiterated that actions taken through Grok would result in the same penalties as direct uploads of illegal material.
On Monday, the communications regulator Ofcom announced it had initiated “urgent contact” with Musk’s company xAI to investigate concerns surrounding Grok’s capabilities in producing undressed images. Kendall has expressed her full support for Ofcom’s prompt inquiry, stating, “It is absolutely right that Ofcom is looking into this as a matter of urgency.”
Grok, which serves as a free AI assistant with optional premium features, allows users to request reactions or additional context through tagging. However, it has also been misused for image editing without the subject’s permission. Female users, including Dr. Daisy Dixon, have reported feeling violated and dehumanized upon discovering sexualized images created from their posted pictures. Dr. Dixon described her experience as “shocking,” and expressed frustration with X’s response to these incidents, which often dismisses reports of violations.
“Myself and many other women on X continue to report the inappropriate AI images/videos we are being sent daily, but X continues to reply that there has been no violation of X rules,” Dr. Dixon said. She has called for quicker enforcement actions following Kendall’s statements, expressing discomfort in using the platform due to fear of encountering more such images.
Kendall underscored the legal obligations of online services to manage content appropriately, clarifying that this is not a matter of free speech but of upholding the law. “We have made intimate image abuse and cyberflashing priority offences under the Online Safety Act,” she stated, emphasizing that platforms should actively prevent and remove such content.
The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, also called for swift government action to curb Grok’s generation of sexualized images, suggesting potential measures like reducing access to X. He stressed the necessity for accountability, urging the National Crime Agency to investigate if the reports are verified.
Speaking on the matter, Thomas Regnier, a spokesperson for tech sovereignty at the European Commission, declared that the issue is taken “very seriously,” condemning the situation as “appalling” and “disgusting.” He asserted that the “Wild West is over in Europe,” insisting that companies are responsible for removing illegal content generated by AI tools.
The ongoing controversy highlights broader concerns about the ethical implications of AI technologies and their misuse in the digital landscape. As regulators and governments across Europe and beyond respond to the challenges posed by AI-generated content, the outcomes may shape the future of online safety standards and accountability in the tech industry.
For more information on Ofcom, visit their official page at ofcom.org.uk. For details on the Online Safety Act, refer to the UK government’s site at gov.uk.
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