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The UK government has criticized Elon Musk’s platform X for restricting Grok AI’s image editing capabilities to paying subscribers, calling the decision “insulting” to victims of misogyny and sexual violence. Officials at Downing Street expressed concern that this change turns a feature capable of generating unlawful images into a premium service, highlighting the problematic nature of monetizing such a tool. This comes after significant public outrage triggered by Grok’s ability to digitally undress individuals in edited images—a function now limited to those who subscribe to the platform.
Despite these new limitations, Grok’s “edit image” feature remains accessible without restrictions through a different app or website, which raises further worries about the adequacy of X’s response. When approached for comment, the platform did not provide immediate feedback. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister emphasized that X “can move swiftly when it wants to do so” and insisted that the platform must take urgent action. They underscored that if another media outlet displayed unlawful images publicly, it would be compelled to remove them immediately to avoid public outrage.
The controversy has also drawn reaction from political and advocacy groups. The Liberal Democrats have urged regulators to temporarily restrict access to X in the UK pending investigation. Professor Clare McGlynn, an expert on legal regulation related to sexual violence and online abuse, criticized Musk for withdrawing access to most users instead of taking responsible preventive measures. Hannah Swirsky, head of policy at the Internet Watch Foundation, condemned the move as insufficient, stating it “does not undo the harm which has been done,” especially concerning the discovery of criminal imagery involving young girls allegedly created with Grok. She condemned the approach of waiting for abuse to occur before intervening as unacceptable.
Grok, a free-to-use tool integrated within X, allows users to tag it in posts to request image modifications, which unfortunately have included digitally stripping people of clothing. Victims of these digital alterations have described the experience as humiliating and dehumanizing. From Friday onwards, Grok began restricting image generation and editing features behind a paywall, available only to X’s paid “verified” subscribers. While some users, like Dr. Daisy Dixon from Cardiff University, welcomed the change, they emphasized it is merely a temporary fix that does not address the fundamental ethical failures of the tool. Charitable organizations like Refuge and the End Violence Against Women coalition further criticized the decision, accusing X of essentially monetizing abuse and doubting the platform’s genuine commitment to preventing such harm.
In light of these developments, calls have intensified for regulatory intervention. Under the UK’s Online Safety Act, Ofcom holds the authority to restrict or block platforms facilitating harmful content. Prominent Liberal Democrat frontbenchers have formally requested Ofcom’s chief to act swiftly to limit access to X while investigations proceed. The UK government has expressed full support for Ofcom using its powers, including the potential of issuing a ban. Political leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, have condemned the images produced by Grok as “disgraceful” and “disgusting,” with Conservative representatives labeling the deepfake content “absolutely abhorrent.”
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