• Source:JND

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has landed itself in controversy right at the start of the year, after users began exploiting its image generation tools to create sexually explicit visuals on X. The backlash was swift, especially as the images reportedly involved real people, sparking fresh concerns around consent and AI misuse.

This isn’t the first time Grok has faced criticism. Earlier, following public outrage, X had already limited Grok’s image generation capabilities to paid users only. Now, the platform is taking things a step further.

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Editing Real People Is No Longer Allowed

Grok will no longer be able to edit photos of real individuals to depict them in explicitly sexual ways or in revealing clothing, such as bikinis or underwear, in regions where such actions are illegal. The move comes amid growing global alarm over highly sexualised AI-generated deepfakes becoming increasingly common online.

X confirmed the change through its official Safety handle, stating that the platform has now blocked the ability to portray real people in a sexualised manner altogether. This includes altered images showing revealing attire or suggestive portrayals without consent.

At the same time, X reiterated that image editing using Grok will remain restricted to paid users and that stronger accountability measures are being put in place. Users who violate platform rules or local laws could face strict action going forward.

Zero Tolerance Still Applies

X also made it clear that these changes do not dilute its existing safety framework in any way. The company stressed that all content created and shared on the platform remains subject to X’s rules and moderation policies.

There continues to be a zero-tolerance stance on child sexual abuse material, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content. According to X, these policies remain firmly in place and will be enforced as before.

Where Does NSFW Content Stand?

One nuance worth noting is that Grok’s NSFW settings still allow certain types of content under specific conditions. With these settings enabled, Grok can generate “upper body nudity of imaginary adult humans (not real ones),” something Elon Musk has previously compared to what is typically permitted in R-rated films in the US.

Addressing the new restrictions, X said,

"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," it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Musk defended the approach, adding,

"That is the de facto standard in America. This will vary in other regions according to the laws on a country-by-country basis."

Global Pushback Is Growing

Criticism of Grok’s image generation feature isn’t limited to users alone. Leaders and regulators across the world have already raised concerns, with Malaysia and Indonesia becoming the first two countries to block the Grok AI tool entirely. The bans reportedly followed incidents where images were altered to create explicit visuals without consent.

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Despite the mounting criticism, Musk has consistently stood by X’s broader philosophy, arguing that many of its critics “just want to suppress free speech”.


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