Changes to Elon Musk’s AI Grok are insulting to victims, says No 10

The UK government says Elon‍ Musk’s platform ‌X limiting Grok AI image edits too‍ paid users is “insulting” to victims of ⁤misogyny and sexual⁢ violence.

Speaking ⁢on Friday, Downing Street ⁤said the move ⁤”simply turns an AI feature that allows ⁤the creation of unlawful images ​into a‌ premium service”.

it follows significant backlash ‌after Grok digitally altered images ‍of others⁢ by ⁤undressing​ them – something it says it​ now can only do for those‌ who pay‍ a monthly fee.

Though, it has no such restrictions when accessed through its⁣ “edit ⁣image” functionality, separate app or website.

The BBC has approached X ‍for comment.

The prime minister’s official spokesperson told reporters⁤ on ‌Friday it showed X “can move swiftly when it wants to do so”.

Thay said⁢ it was “abundantly clear that⁤ X needs to ⁤act and needs to act now”.

“It is time for X to grip this issue, if another media company had billboards in town centres showing unlawful images,​ it would act immediately to take them down or face public backlash,”⁣ they added.

The⁤ Liberal Democrats have called for access⁢ to X⁣ to be temporarily restricted in the ​UK while the social media site is investigated.

“Musk has thrown his ⁢toys out of the‍ pram in protest at being held​ to account ​for the tsunami of abuse,” ⁣said Professor clare McGlynn, an expert ⁤in the ⁣legal regulation of pornography, sexual violence and online abuse.

“Rather ⁤of ⁢taking ​the responsible steps to ensure Grok could not ⁢be used⁤ for abusive purposes, it has withdrawn access for the vast majority of users.”

And Hannah​ Swirsky,head of policy at the Internet Watch Foundation,said it “does not undo ⁣the harm which⁣ has been done”.

“We do not believe it ⁢is good enough to simply limit⁣ access to a tool which should never ⁣have‍ had the ⁣capacity to create the kind of ‍imagery⁢ we have seen in recent days,” she said.

The charity previously said its analysts had discovered⁢ “criminal‍ imagery” of girls‍ aged between 11 and 13⁢ which “appeared ⁣to have been created” using Grok.

“Sitting ⁣and waiting‍ for ⁣unsafe‍ products to be abused before taking action is unacceptable,” Swirsky said.

Grok is a free tool which users can tag directly in posts or‍ replies under other users’ posts to ⁤ask it for a particular response.

But the feature has also allowed people to request it to edit images -​ and ask it to​ digitally ⁤strip people‌ of most of their clothing.

Grok has⁢ fulfilled many user requests asking it to edit images of ⁣women to show‍ them in bikinis or little clothing – something those subject to such requests have⁤ told the BBC left them feeling “humiliated” and ‌”dehumanised“.

However as of Friday morning, Grok ​has told users asking it to alter images uploaded to X that “image ‌generation‍ and​ editing are currently limited to paying subscribers”.

It adds users​ “can ⁣subscribe to unlock thes features”.

Some posts on the platform seen by‌ BBC News ⁤suggest only those with a blue⁤ tick “verified” mark – exclusive to X’s⁤ paid subscriber tier ⁤- were able to successfully request image⁣ edits to Grok.

Dr Daisy Dixon, a lecturer in beliefs at Cardiff University and female X user who said she had seen an increase ‌in people using Grok⁢ to undress her, welcomed the change ​but ⁢said it​ felt “like a sticking plaster”.

“Grok needs to be totally‌ redesigned and‍ have built-in ethical guardrails to prevent this from ever happening again,” she told ‍the BBC.

“Elon Musk also needs to acknowledge‌ this⁤ for what ‍it ⁢is indeed – yet another instance of gender-based violation.”

charities campaigning to end ⁤violence towards women also criticised X over the move.

“To restrict access​ to paying subscribers is not only inadequate⁣ – it represents the monetisation ‍of abuse,” said Emma Pickering of Refuge.

She ⁣said while limiting the feature to paid ⁣X ‍users may reduce volume, abuse had “simply been placed behind a ⁣paywall, allowing ⁢X to profit from harm”.

Meanwhile Andrea Simon, director ​of the End Violence Against Women coalition, said “we ⁢are not convinced that X will⁤ take action to identify and prevent this, given it has ⁢dragged‍ its heels ‍with tackling this abuse”.

Prof ‌McGlynn said X’s ⁣response echoed ‍its approach to pornographic⁤ Taylor Swift deepfakes on ​the‍ platform last year – where it ⁤blocked searches for sexualised ⁤material generated of the popstar using a Grok AI video feature.

“He is doing this to‍ stoke free speech arguments,” she added.

“He ⁣will claim regulation‍ is stifling people’s use of this technology. But, all the regulation requires is that he takes necessary precautions to reduce harm.”

‘Ofcom must restrict X’