Ofcom asks X about reports its Grok AI makes sexualised images of children
19 minutes ago Share Save Laura Cress , Technology reporter and Liv McMahon , Technology reporter Share Save
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Ofcom has made "urgent contact" with Elon Musk's company xAI following reports its AI tool Grok can be used to make "sexualised images of children" and undress women. A spokesperson for the regulator said it was also investigating concerns Grok has been producing "undressed images" of people. The BBC has seen several examples on the social media platform X of people asking the chatbot to alter real images to make women appear in bikinis without their consent, as well as putting them in sexual situations. X has not responded to a request for comment. On Sunday, it issued a warning to users not to use Grok to generate illegal content including child sexual abuse material.
Elon Musk also posted to say anyone who asks the AI to generate illegal content would "suffer the same consequences" as if they uploaded it themselves. XAI's own acceptable use policy prohibits "depicting likenesses of persons in a pornographic manner". But people have been using Grok to digitally undress people without their consent and without notifying them. The European Commission - the EU's enforcement arm - said on Monday it was "seriously looking into this matter" and authorities in France, Malaysia and India were reportedly assessing the situation. Meanwhile, the UK's Internet Watch Foundation told the BBC it had received reports from the public relating to images generated by Grok on X. But it said it had so far not seen images which would cross the UK's legal threshold to be considered child sexual abuse imagery.
'Appalling' and 'disgusting'