Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence tool, Grok, is facing tighter restrictions after widespread concern over the creation of s£xualised AI deepfakes involving real people.
X announced that Grok will no longer be allowed to edit images of real individuals to depict them in revealing clothing in countries where such content is illegal. The decision follows growing criticism from governments, regulators, and digital safety advocates who warned that the technology was being misused in harmful ways.
In a statement shared on the platform, X said it had already taken concrete steps to limit abuse of the AI tool.
“We have implemented technological measures to prevent the Grok account from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing.”
“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.”
The company also confirmed that image editing through Grok will now be limited strictly to paid users, describing the move as an added layer of accountability designed to discourage misuse and ensure that violations can be traced and addressed.
The announcement drew immediate reactions from the UK government. Officials said the decision validated earlier calls made by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who had publicly condemned X over the spread of s£xualised AI-generated images.
UK media regulator Ofcom welcomed the restriction but stressed that its investigation into whether X breached the Online Safety Act is still ongoing.
“This is a welcome development,” an Ofcom spokesperson said. “We are working round the clock to progress this and get answers into what went wrong and what’s being done to fix it.”
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall also backed the move but insisted that regulatory scrutiny must continue until the full facts are established.
The policy change came just hours after California’s attorney general revealed that the state had opened its own probe into the spread of AI-generated deepfakes, including images involving children allegedly created using Grok.
X said the latest safeguards are part of broader efforts to ensure the platform complies with local laws and prevents its AI tools from being used to exploit or harm individuals.
