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Woman speaks out after AI alters her image
A woman has described feeling "dehumanised" after Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, was used to digitally remove her clothing without her permission, the BBC reports.
Non-consensual image manipulation on X
The BBC reviewed multiple instances on social media platform X where users prompted Grok to generate bikini images of women or place them in sexual scenarios without consent. Samantha Smith, whose likeness was altered, shared her experience on X, sparking responses from others who faced similar violations.
"Women are not consenting to this. While it wasn't me in states of undress, it looked like me and felt like a violation as if someone had posted a nude or bikini picture of me."
Samantha Smith
Legal and regulatory response
A UK Home Office spokesperson confirmed plans to criminalise nudification tools, with offenders facing imprisonment and fines. Meanwhile, media regulator Ofcom stated that tech firms must assess risks of illegal content on their platforms but did not confirm whether it was investigating X or Grok.
Under current UK law, creating or sharing non-consensual intimate images-including AI-generated sexual deepfakes-is illegal. Ofcom emphasised that platforms like X must take "appropriate steps" to mitigate risks and remove such content swiftly.
Grok's role and criticism
Grok, a free AI assistant on X with premium features, allows users to edit images via AI when tagged in posts. It has faced prior criticism for enabling sexually explicit content, including a controversial deepfake of Taylor Swift.
Durham University law professor Clare McGlynn accused X and Grok of enabling abuse with impunity, stating: "The platform has allowed these images to circulate for months without action, and regulators have yet to intervene."
Company silence and policies
XAI, the firm behind Grok, did not respond to the BBC's request for comment beyond an automated reply dismissing reports as "legacy media lies." Its acceptable use policy explicitly bans pornographic depictions of individuals, yet enforcement remains unclear.
