Elon Musk’s AI tool Grok will no longer be able to edit images of real people to depict them in revealing clothing in regions where such activity is illegal, following widespread concern over sexualised AI deepfakes.
In a statement posted on X, the company said it has introduced technical safeguards to stop the Grok account from enabling edits that show real people in revealing attire. The move prompted a response from the UK government, which described it as a “vindication” after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged X to rein in the use of its AI tools.
UK media regulator Ofcom welcomed the development but confirmed that its investigation into whether X breached UK laws is still ongoing. A spokesperson said the regulator is working to understand what went wrong and how the issues are being addressed.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall also welcomed the changes, while stressing that Ofcom’s investigation must fully establish the facts.
The announcement came just hours after California’s top prosecutor revealed that the state was investigating the spread of sexualised AI deepfakes, including those involving children, created using the AI model.
X said it has now geo-blocked users from generating images of real people in bikinis, underwear, or similar clothing through Grok in jurisdictions where such content is illegal. The company also reiterated that only paid users will be allowed to edit images using Grok on the platform.
According to X, these measures add an extra layer of protection to help ensure that anyone attempting to misuse Grok in violation of the law or platform policies can be held accountable.
