Images of naked women and children have been circulating on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X.
Reports from Reuters and other sources reveal that the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, was producing a significant volume of images featuring women and minors in highly revealing clothing, a feature labeled “Spicy Mode.”
Thomas Renier, a spokesman for the European Commission, stated that they are “very aware” of X’s “spicy mode.”
“This isn’t spicy at all. It’s illegal. It’s horrifying. It’s disgusting. This is our perspective, and it really has no place in Europe,” Renier commented.
In the UK, the regulatory body Ofcom has demanded that Grok clarify how it generates images of naked individuals and the sexual imagery involving minors. They’re examining whether the platform has neglected its legal duties to safeguard users.
X has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the statements from the EU Commission or Ofcom. The company recently asserted to Reuters that “legacy media is lying” about the matter. Meanwhile, Musk took to social media to downplay concerns, posting emojis of people laughing in response to edited images of celebrities appearing in bikinis.
Ofcom expressed that it is aware of “serious concerns” surrounding Grok’s functionalities. “We’ve urgently reached out to both X and xAI to understand what measures they’re implementing to meet our legal obligations for user protection in the UK,” a spokesperson mentioned.
In the UK, it’s against the law to create or disseminate non-consensual explicit images or materials related to child sexual abuse, including those generated by AI deepfakes. Moreover, tech platforms must act to prevent UK users from accessing illegal content and promptly remove it once they are aware of it.
This statement from EU and British authorities follows reports that French ministers have also sought clarification from X regarding this alleged offensive content.
