Why X and Elon Musk Climbed Down from Grok Deepfake Stance
Elon Musk’s X has introduced major restrictions on its Grok AI tool following mounting criticism over its potential to generate sexualised images of real people.
The company stated that, in regions where such activity is illegal, Grok will no longer be allowed to modify photos of individuals to show them in revealing clothing.
“We have implemented technological measures to prevent the Grok account from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing,” an announcement on X says.
The decision comes after global backlash over users producing sexualised AI deepfakes – some involving women and children – and sharing them widely across the platform.
What have the responses been to restrictions of X’s Grok?
Ofcom, the UK’s independent online safety regulator, has launched a formal investigation into X under the Online Safety Act to assess compliance with duties protecting UK users from illegal content.
“We are aware of serious concerns raised about a feature on Grok on X that produces undressed images of people and sexualised images of children,” Ofcom initially said.
“We have made urgent contact with X and xAI to understand what steps they have taken to comply with their legal duties to protect users in the UK.
“Based on their response, we will undertake a swift assessment to determine whether there are potential compliance issues that warrant investigation.”
In an update following the latest development, an Ofcom spokesperson added: “X has said it’s implemented measures to prevent the Grok account from being used to create intimate images of people. This is a welcome development.
"However, our formal investigation remains ongoing. We are working round the clock to progress this and get answers into what went wrong and what’s being done to fix it.”
The UK government's response hailed X's restrictions on Grok AI as a significant policy concession, with officials claiming vindication after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the platform's inaction as “horrific”, “disgusting” and “shameful.”
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall condemned X’s delay in restricting Grok AI as “a further insult to victims, effectively monetising this horrific crime.”
Criticism extends beyond the UK, where such content violates laws, to the US.
California’s attorney general has opened an investigation into sexually explicit AI deepfakes produced by Grok, including those depicting minors.
This multi-jurisdictional response highlights Grok’s pivotal shift amid global demands for accountability on AI-generated abuse material.
In an update via its Safety account, X says: “We now geoblock 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.”
X restricts Grok’s image-editing tools to paying subscribers only, adding a layer of accountability for potential misuse.
All users, regardless of subscription status, face a blanket prohibition on editing real people’s images into revealing clothing.
Elon Musk maintains that Grok adheres to each country’s laws, with restrictions tailored to jurisdictions where such edits prove illegal.
Posting on the platform, he says: “Obviously, Grok does not spontaneously generate images, it does so only according to user requests.
“When asked to generate images, it will refuse to produce anything illegal, as the operating principle for Grok is to obey the laws of any given country or state.
“There may be times when adversarial hacking of Grok prompts does something unexpected. If that happens, we fix the bug immediately.”
The role of AI ethics and platform accountability
Despite X's recent restrictions, global regulators and advocacy groups contend that the platform's reactive approach reveals a broader governance problem across Gen AI platforms.
Thousands of sexualised AI images have flooded X in recent weeks, fuelling demands from legislators and women’s groups for Apple and Google to delist Grok from app stores.
Three US Democratic senators have formally urged both companies to remove X and its Grok AI, pointing to rampant non-consensual content.
Musk’s simultaneous leadership of X and xAI, Grok’s developer, has amplified concerns over conflicts between rapid innovation and effective moderation.
X’s policy reversal signals a pivotal shift in AI governance amid clashes with tightening legal frameworks.
Geoblocking and access limits represent progress toward trust restoration, yet experts stress that rigorous enforcement and transparency remain essential for lasting compliance.
