Bangkok, 15 Jan

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok will no longer allow image edits that depict real individuals in revealing or sexualised attire in jurisdictions where such content is illegal, the company said in a post on X.

The clarification came after widespread criticism and regulatory pushback over the circulation of non-consensual, sexually explicit images generated using Grok, including content involving women and minors.

Musk’s AI venture, xAI, said it has introduced geoblocking measures to ensure compliance with local laws. The restrictions apply to all users, including paid subscribers.

“We have implemented technological safeguards to prevent the editing of images of real people into revealing clothing such as bikinis, underwear or similar attire,” the company said.

xAI added that image generation and editing features are now limited to paid accounts to improve accountability and prevent misuse of the platform.

The announcement followed investigations and warnings from several governments. Malaysia and Indonesia blocked access to Grok, while authorities in the United Kingdom and the European Union launched probes into potential breaches of online safety laws. France and India issued advisories calling for stronger controls, and Brazil sought a formal inquiry.

In the United States, California announced an investigation into the chatbot’s role in producing non-consensual deepfake imagery. State officials said Grok’s tools had enabled large-scale harassment through fabricated intimate images shared online, including on X.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the spread of AI-generated explicit material depicting women and children was “deeply disturbing” and warranted urgent action.

Grok’s earlier “spicy mode” had allowed users to generate explicit content, triggering global concern over AI misuse and platform accountability.

xAI said it has zero tolerance for the creation or distribution of non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material and would continue tightening safeguards in response to legal and regulatory developments