After backlash, X restricts Grok from generating sexualized images of real people – News

Elon Musk’s X Corp. today responded to a wave of international criticism over the company’s Grok chatbot, saying the bot will no longer generate artificial images of real people in a state of undress where it is illegal.

This follows a barrage of concern from all corners of the world. In California, Attorney General Rob Bonta said the “avalanche” of deepfakes of women and girls being churned out by Grok was “shocking.” The images, posted without the target’s consent, are currently being investigated for possibly violating state laws.

“I urge xAI to take immediate action to ensure this goes no further,” said Bonta. “We have zero tolerance for the AI-based creation and dissemination of nonconsensual intimate images or of child sexual abuse material.”

In the U.K., the national media watchdog Ofcom said it was investigating “deeply concerning reports” of the chatbot being used to create such images, some of which Ofcom said included “sexualized images of children.”

If X is found to have broken the law, the company risks being hit with a fine up to 10% of its global revenue or about $24 million, whichever is greater. If X doesn’t comply with the fine, it could be blocked in the country.

Likewise, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed, “If X cannot control Grok, we will.” Musk, who has been critical of Starmer in the past, wrote on X that Britain would seek “any excuse for censorship,” saying it had become a “fascist state.”

In what has become a diplomatic tussle, U.S. Department of State spokeswoman Sarah B. Rogers warned that “nothing is off the table” if the U.K. bans X. While President Trump’s and Musk’s relationship has been rocky, earlier this week, the Defense Department announced it will begin using Grok in its military systems.

The backlash also spread to the culturally conservative countries of Malaysia and Indonesia, where over the weekend internet users found the Grok chatbot had been temporarily blocked. The nations became the first in the world to block access from Grok, both stating that pornographic material was unacceptable. India, France, Canada and the European Union have also called for action to be taken against X.

“We remain committed to making X a safe platform for everyone and continue to have zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content,” X said today in response to the criticism, promising to take “appropriate action against accounts that violate our X Rules.”

The company also said it had geoblocked “the ability of all users to generate images of real people in bikinis, underwear, and similar attire via the Grok account and in Grok in X in those jurisdictions where it’s illegal.”

Musk himself doesn’t believe that Grok will generate nude images of children, writing on X, “When asked to generate images, it will refuse to produce anything illegal.”

That won’t be enough to quell the flames of his critics, whose investigations over the coming weeks will likely reveal the extent to which Grok produces images that have no place on social media.

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