Hajra Naz
A wave of abuse complaints swept across social media following the rollout of a new “edit image” feature on Grok, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot. The tool allowed users to modify online images using prompts such as “put her in a bikini” or “remove her clothes,” rapidly fueling concerns about non-consensual sexual manipulation.
The surge in misuse comes amid growing alarm from digital safety advocates over the spread of AI-powered “nudify” tools. In response, authorities in France, India, Malaysia, and the European Union have launched investigations or demanded urgent corrective action.
European Regulators Raise Legal Red Flags
The European Commission, acting as the EU’s digital watchdog, confirmed it is “very seriously looking” into complaints surrounding Grok. The chatbot was developed by Musk’s startup xAI and is integrated into his social media platform X.
EU digital affairs spokesperson Thomas Regnier condemned the outputs in unusually blunt terms.
“Grok is now offering a ‘spicy mode’ showing explicit sexual content with some output generated with childlike images,” Regnier said. “This is not spicy. This is illegal. This is appalling. This has no place in Europe.”
Read More: Elon Musk’s Grok Faces Brief Suspension on X?
UK and Asia Join Investigations
In the UK, media regulator Ofcom said it had made “urgent contact” with X and xAI to assess whether they are complying with legal obligations to protect users. Ofcom added that it would determine whether the situation warrants a formal investigation once it reviews the response.
Meanwhile, in Malaysia, public concern escalated after lawyer Azira Aziz discovered that a user—apparently based in the Philippines—had prompted Grok to alter her profile image to depict her in a bikini.
“Innocent and playful uses of AI are fine,” Aziz told AFP. “But gender-based violence weaponising AI against non-consenting women and children must be firmly opposed.”
She urged users to report violations to both X and Malaysian authorities.
Allegations Involving Children Spark Alarm
The backlash intensified as users began flagging prompts involving children. Several X users directly appealed to Musk to intervene, citing examples of Grok being asked to place children in bikinis.
“Grok is now undressing photos of me as a child,” wrote Ashley St. Clair, the mother of one of Musk’s children. “This is objectively horrifying. Illegal.”
The comments added urgency to growing fears that AI image tools are being exploited to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
xAI’s Response Draws Criticism
When contacted by AFP for comment, xAI responded with a brief automated message: “Legacy Media Lies.” The response drew further criticism amid the escalating controversy.
Separately, Grok posted a statement on X acknowledging failures in its safety systems.
“We’ve identified lapses in safeguards and are urgently fixing them,” the chatbot wrote. “CSAM is illegal and prohibited.”
Last week, Grok also issued an apology for generating and sharing an image depicting “two young girls (estimated ages 12–16) in sexualized attire” in response to a user prompt.
Legal Pressure Mounts in France and India
In France, the Paris public prosecutor’s office expanded an existing investigation into X to include new allegations that Grok was being used to generate and distribute child pornography. That probe builds on a separate inquiry launched in July over claims the platform’s algorithm was being manipulated for foreign interference.
In India, authorities ordered X to remove sexualized content linked to Grok, take action against offending users, and submit an “Action Taken Report” within 72 hours. The deadline expired on Monday, with no public confirmation that X has complied.
Read More: French and Malaysian authorities are investigating Grok Over Sexualized AI Deepfakes
Malaysia Signals Enforcement Action
Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission said it is investigating complaints related to “indecent, grossly offensive” content appearing on X. The regulator added that it plans to summon representatives from the platform as part of its inquiry.
A Growing Pattern of Controversy
The latest scandal adds to mounting scrutiny of Grok, which has previously been criticized for spreading misinformation about major global events, including the war in Gaza, tensions between India and Pakistan, and a deadly shooting in Australia.
As regulators intensify their focus, the backlash underscores widening concerns over AI safety, platform responsibility, and the adequacy of current safeguards—especially when powerful image tools are deployed at scale with minimal friction.
