Elon Musk-owned artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, will no longer be permitted to edit images of real people to portray them in revealing clothing, following mounting concerns over the spread of sexualised AI-generated deepfakes in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
X, formerly known as Twitter, announced the update on its platform, saying new safeguards have been introduced to curb the misuse of the image-editing tool.
“We have implemented technological measures to prevent the Grok AI account from editing images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis,” the company said. “This restriction applies to all users, including paid subscribers.”
The decision comes just hours after California Attorney General Rob Bonta revealed that his office had launched an investigation into the circulation of sexualised AI-generated images — including those involving children — allegedly created using the Grok model.
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According to X, the update strengthens existing controls by completely blocking the editing of images depicting real individuals in bikinis, underwear, or similar attire. While image-editing features on Grok remain limited to paid users, the company stressed that the new restrictions apply across all subscription tiers.
X said the measures are designed to provide an additional layer of protection and ensure accountability for anyone attempting to use the tool in ways that violate the law or the platform’s policies. Users who try to generate or alter images of real people in revealing clothing will now be automatically prevented from doing so, in line with local laws and regulations.
Speaking on Wednesday, Attorney General Bonta said the material under investigation “has been used to harass people across the internet,” adding that it includes sexually explicit depictions of women and children.
The controversy has triggered international responses. Authorities in Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked access to the chatbot over the issue, while UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned that X could lose its “right to self-regulate” if concerns persist.
Meanwhile, Britain’s media regulator, Ofcom, confirmed on Monday that it is examining whether X breached UK law in connection with the circulation of the sexual images.
