Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok is facing a sweeping international backlash after investigations revealed that the tool was being used to create sexualised deepfake images of women and children without consent. The controversy escalated following reports that Grok’s “edit image” and “spicy mode” features allowed users to digitally undress individuals or place them in revealing outfits, with some outputs involving minors.
According to analyses cited by ABC News and Reuters, Grok generated thousands of such images, many of which appeared publicly on X timelines due to the platform’s integration with the AI tool. A study by AI Forensics found that 2% of 20,000 Grok‑generated images involved individuals who appeared to be under 18.
The UK’s Technology Secretary Liz Kendall condemned the content as “absolutely appalling,” urging X to act immediately while Ofcom launched an urgent inquiry into potential violations of the Online Safety Act. The European Commission described the outputs as “illegal” and “disgusting,” warning that such material has no place in the EU’s regulatory environment.
India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT issued a 72‑hour ultimatum demanding the removal of unlawful content and a detailed action report, accusing Grok of “gross misuse” of AI and failures in safeguarding minors. Malaysia’s communications regulator also opened investigations into obscene and offensive content circulating on X.
Victims—including public figures, minors, and everyday users—reported discovering manipulated images of themselves online. Ashley St. Clair, the mother of one of Musk’s children, said Grok generated sexualised images of her as a minor, calling the experience “objectively horrifying”.
Despite the mounting criticism, xAI’s public responses often included the automated message “Legacy Media Lies,” though Grok later acknowledged “lapses in safeguards” and promised urgent fixes. Musk himself argued that users—not the tool—should be held responsible, stating that anyone generating illegal content with Grok would face the same consequences as uploading it directly.
Regulators warn that the scandal highlights the dangers of “nudification” AI tools and the lack of guardrails in rapidly deployed generative systems. Experts say Grok’s integration with X—where outputs are publicly visible—has amplified the harm compared to more restricted AI platforms.
As investigations continue, global pressure is mounting on Musk and xAI to overhaul safety mechanisms, enforce stricter moderation, and comply with emerging digital safety laws.
Linked Sources- ABC News - CNBC TV18 - Telangana Today - Business Standard - The Hindu - Channel News Asia - News18 - Bloomberg - Sky News - Financial Express - Dawn
