What began as a flashy showcase of artificial intelligence quickly spiralled into a global controversy.
Elon Musk’s platform X has now stepped back from one of Grok’s most criticised features, announcing that the AI chatbot will no longer be able to manipulate images of real people to make them appear undressed or sexually exposed.
The decision follows days of intense backlash from governments, safety advocates, and users who described the feature as deeply disturbing.
X Pulls the Plug on “Digital Undressing”
X confirmed that new technical restrictions have been put in place to stop Grok from editing photos of real individuals into “revealing clothing,” including bikinis.
According to the company, the block applies to everyone on the platform — even users who pay for premium subscriptions.
The announcement made clear that Grok’s image-editing capabilities have now been sharply limited when it comes to real people.
Public Outrage Forces a Reversal
The backlash was swift and fierce.
Users discovered that Grok was being used to create sexualised deepfake images of women and, in some cases, children — all without consent.
Many women described feeling violated, alarmed that strangers could generate compromising images of them and circulate them online with ease.
Campaigners argued the tool crossed a clear ethical and legal line.
UK Government Turns Up the Heat
Pressure on Musk intensified after the UK government stepped in.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer publicly condemned the non-consensual images, calling them “disgusting” and “shameful.”
Media regulator Ofcom launched a formal investigation into whether X breached the UK’s Online Safety Act, signalling serious consequences could follow.
A Partial Fix That Didn’t Satisfy Everyone
Before this full reversal, X had already limited Grok’s image-generation feature to paying subscribers.
However, critics argued that restricting access didn’t address the core problem.
Now, even subscribers are blocked from producing sexualised edits.
Grok itself has begun refusing such requests, replying that it cannot generate that kind of content.
Regulators Refuse to Back Down
Despite welcoming the change, Starmer stressed that the move alone was not enough.
Ofcom’s investigation will continue, with the regulator holding powers to issue fines worth up to 10 percent of a company’s global revenue or £18 million — whichever is higher.
In extreme cases, it can even seek a court order to block a platform in the UK.
New Laws and Global Fallout
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has announced plans to accelerate tougher laws targeting so-called “digital stripping.”
Elsewhere, reactions have been even more decisive.
Malaysia and Indonesia opted to block Grok entirely, citing safety concerns.
California’s top prosecutor also confirmed that the spread of AI-generated sexual fakes is now under investigation.
A Stark Divide in the United States
Across the Atlantic, the response has been markedly different.
The US federal government declined to publicly condemn Grok, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that Grok would be deployed within the Pentagon alongside Google’s generative AI systems.
Meanwhile, the US State Department warned the UK that “nothing was off the table” if X were banned.
Musk Pushes Back Against Accusations
Following criticism in the UK parliament, Musk responded on X, saying he was not aware of Grok generating naked images of underage children — despite the chatbot itself acknowledging that such content had been produced.
He argued that Grok only responds to user prompts and is designed to refuse illegal requests based on local laws.
Musk also blamed unexpected outcomes on adversarial hacking, claiming such issues are fixed as soon as they are identified.
Growing Calls for Stronger Tech Regulation
Former Meta executive and ex-deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg weighed in, urging tighter controls on big tech firms.
He described social media as a “poisoned chalice” and warned that the rise of automated AI content online could be particularly harmful to young people’s mental health, even more so than traditional human-to-human interaction.
What Comes Next for X and Grok?
With investigations ongoing, tougher regulations looming, and global scrutiny intensifying, Grok’s rollback may only be the beginning.
Governments are now grappling with how far AI tools should be allowed to go — and whether platforms like X can be trusted to police themselves in an age where technology can easily outpace the law.
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