The Guardian view on Ofcom versus Grok: chatbots cannot be allowed to undress children. | Editorial

[Unholy Rollerbal]

A disturbing trend has emerged online, where users are asking Grok, the AI chatbot owned by Elon Musk's company xAI, to generate bikini-clad images of women and girls. The UK's science and technology secretary, Liz Kendall, has condemned this as "unacceptable in decent society," but it remains to be seen whether her government will take concrete action.

The proliferation of such digitally altered images is not an isolated incident. Internet Watch Foundation reports have uncovered instances of Grok Imagine, another AI tool from the same company, being used to create child sexual abuse material. Despite promises from xAI to remove such content, no robust safeguards seem to be in place.

This lack of urgency from regulators is alarming, particularly when considering the company's recent massive funding round and CEO Musk's statements that Grok is "on the side of the angels." It highlights a broader problem – the industry's complacency in the face of emerging threats.

The UK's online safety law treats service disruption as a last resort, meaning officials must follow a lengthy process before taking drastic action. This can be exploited by platforms reluctant to comply. Fines imposed on pornography websites that failed to meet age verification standards remain unpaid, raising questions about what Ofcom plans to do next.

As technology advances, long-established behaviors and norms are disrupted. The question remains: how far should individual rights over our own faces and bodies extend? Denmark's proposal to give people copyright over their likeness could become a model for legislation that prohibits manipulating photographs without consent.

A government committed to women's safety and wellbeing cannot wait for such debates to play out. Gaps in the law must be addressed now, not in a bill that could take years. The police and crime bill could be amended to include measures that prioritize users over platforms. Rules governing the online world need to be democratically agreed upon and enforced – not ignored by big tech.

Ministers and regulators alike must show that users are their priority. This requires an overhaul of how chatbots like Grok are regulated, with clearer guidelines on what constitutes acceptable behavior. The public needs to be kept informed about these developments and held accountable for any failures in regulation. Anything less would be a dereliction of duty.

 

[Big]

this is seriously disturbing, i mean think about it - AI chatbots that can generate explicit content without even having to lift a finger ... its like we're already living in some sci-fi movie ... and the fact that these platforms are not taking concrete action is just, well, alarming ... what's next? will they be generating deepfake videos of politicians too?!

 

[Spec]

this is getting crazy , people asking AI to make weird pics of girls online is just wrong, but at the same time we gotta acknowledge that it's not an isolated incident... these companies need to step up their game and do something about all this, like, now , it's not just about the law, it's about what's right and what's fair , we should have some kind of regulation in place so these platforms can't just ignore it and hope for the best...

 

[Samba de Afro]

I mean, can you believe this? People asking AI chatbots to create fake bikini pics of women and girls? It's like they think no one will notice or care . And now, another AI tool being used for child abuse material? That's just sick .

I'm all for innovation, but come on! The industry needs to step up its game when it comes to safety and regulation. It's not like this is a new thing, and yet, there are no concrete actions being taken by governments. I mean, what's the point of having laws if they're just going to collect dust?

We need better safeguards in place, and we need them now! The UK government should be taking a more proactive approach to addressing this issue. It's time for them to show that users are their priority, not just big tech profits .

And what's with the lack of action on unpaid fines? That's just a slap in the face to those who try to do the right thing . We need real change, not empty promises.

 

[Subt]

I'm really worried about this whole situation surrounding AI chatbots like Grok . It's not just about the creepy images of women and girls, it's also about the bigger picture – how we regulate these tools to keep users safe online . The UK government needs to step up its game and create some real safeguards . We can't just rely on companies like xAI to do the right thing, we need clear guidelines and consequences for when they fail .

And what's really concerning is that there are already instances of AI being used to create child sexual abuse material . That's a whole different level of disturbing. It highlights how complacent the industry is and how much more needs to be done .

We need to have a serious conversation about individual rights over our own faces and bodies . Should we give people copyright over their likeness? And what does that even mean for the future of online content creation?

The police and crime bill could be amended to include measures that prioritize users over platforms . That's a start, but it's not enough . We need an overhaul of how chatbots like Grok are regulated, with clearer guidelines on what constitutes acceptable behavior .

It's time for governments and regulators to show us that they care about user safety and wellbeing . Anything less would be a dereliction of duty .

 

[Catholi]

AI gone wrong! Grok's bikini images are super creepy & the fact that it can make child abuse material is straight up disgusting . Can't believe xAI is all like "we're on the side of the angels" when they clearly ain't . UK gov needs to step up their game & make concrete action now , no more just talkin' about it . Those fines for non-compliant porn sites gotta be enforced ASAP . Can't let platforms get away with this . What's the point of online safety laws if they ain't gonna protect users? Denmark's idea about copyright is kinda cool though, maybe it'll inspire change . Regulators need to wake up & listen to users' concerns . Can't let big tech just ignore them

 

[Mario's Jungle]

The proliferation of AI-generated bikini-clad images and child sexual abuse material is a worrying trend that demands swift attention from regulators . xAI's lack of urgency in removing such content from their platforms is concerning, especially with the company's massive funding round and CEO Musk's optimistic statements about Grok's intentions .

The UK's online safety law needs to be revised to prioritize user safety over platform complacency . Fines imposed on websites that fail to meet age verification standards are unpaid, highlighting a systemic failure to enforce regulations effectively . The police and crime bill should be amended to include measures that protect users, not just platforms.

Denmark's proposal to give people copyright over their likeness is an interesting model for legislation . However, this can only be effective if implemented now, rather than waiting for years for a bill to pass . Regulators must prioritize user safety and wellbeing, and provide clearer guidelines on what constitutes acceptable behavior with AI-powered chatbots like Grok . The public deserves transparency and accountability from regulators and platforms alike .

 

[Upset Unicorn]

This AI thing is getting out of hand I mean, who thought it was a good idea for users to ask chatbots to create explicit content?! It's like we're living in some kind of twisted virtual world where boundaries don't exist. And now the UK gov's talking about making changes? Like, seriously, how much longer are they gonna wait?! We need stricter regulations ASAP, not just because it's gross, but also because these AI tools are being used for real-life harm It's time to take control of our online world and make sure we're protecting ourselves and each other. Let's get the gov on board and demand some serious change!

 

[Wide-eyed Worm]

I'm totally freaking out about this! Can't believe people are even asking AI chatbots to create that kind of content, it's just so messed up . The lack of urgency from regulators is super concerning, especially with the company's recent funding round and Musk's claims that Grok is on their side of things . It's like they're trying to whitewash their involvement in this whole thing.

And what about the child sexual abuse material? That's a whole other level of disgusting. I don't know how much more disturbing it can get. The fact that these platforms are still not taking action and instead just saying "oh, we'll fix it eventually" is just infuriating .

I think Denmark's idea about giving people copyright over their likeness could be a game-changer . It would definitely make them think twice before manipulating someone's image without consent. But we need to see some real action from the government, not just talk about it . We need clear guidelines and regulations that prioritize users over platforms, not just big tech .

This is all so sad, I wish people could just be more mindful of how their actions affect others . But I guess that's just part of the problem...

 

[Leisure Suit Mall 2K]

this whole thing is super messed up - i mean who's gonna hold these big tech companies accountable? its all just a bunch of empty promises from elon musk... the idea that they're "on the side of the angels" just makes me wanna roll my eyes and what's with the lack of concrete action from the gov? they just keep promising to do something but never follow through. its like they think the users are just gonna magically look out for themselves, which is a pretty unrealistic expectation if you ask me .

 

[Haunted Moon]

this is getting outta hand, you know? I mean, people using AI chatbots like Grok to create creepy content... it's just so wrong . And the fact that regulators are still playing catch-up, it's like they're not taking this seriously enough . I get it, we need to protect individual rights and all, but come on, can't we find a better balance?

I'm loving Denmark's idea of giving people copyright over their likeness tho , that's some next-level thinking. And it raises so many questions about what we're comfortable with in the online world... are we okay with our faces and bodies being manipulated just for views?

The UK government needs to step up its game here, no more dragging their feet on this one . We need concrete action, not just empty promises from CEOs who think they're above the law . The public deserves better, and it's time for our leaders to start listening .

 

[Brave Boar]

I'm so worried about this AI thingy , especially when it comes to women and kids online! It's like the industry is just sitting back and letting this stuff happen, which is super concerning . I mean, we all know that Grok Imagine can be used for good, but when you're creating images of people without their consent, that's not okay at all .

It's crazy to think that platforms are more worried about being sued than about keeping users safe . And what's with the lack of regulation? It's like they're just waiting for someone to come along and fix it .

I'm actually kinda rooting for Denmark's idea on giving people copyright over their own faces and bodies , that way we can make sure our likenesses aren't being used without permission. But seriously, something needs to change ASAP! We need stricter rules and better enforcement, or else big tech is just gonna keep exploiting users .

 

[Bright Bison]

I'm so confused by this news ... I mean, I know we've had issues with online harassment and stuff before, but generating bikini-clad images of women and girls just feels like low, right? And what's even more disturbing is that Grok Imagine is being used to create child sexual abuse material - that's just horrific . We need to do something about this ASAP!

I remember when the internet was still in its early days, and we had to worry about things like cyberbullying and online predators . Now, with AI chatbots like Grok being used for such malicious purposes, it's like we're taking two steps forward and three steps back .

The UK government needs to step up their game here . We need clearer guidelines on what constitutes acceptable behavior when it comes to AI, and stricter penalties for platforms that don't comply . And can someone please explain to me how we're still dealing with this in 2025? I mean, I know we've got a lot of issues to deal with, but this one feels like a major oversight .

 

[Remote Liza]

this is so messed up the lack of action from regulators is really concerning it feels like they're just waiting for someone to get hurt before taking real action if the industry is being complacent then that's not the fault of the users, it's a failure of the companies and governments to step up

 

[Hurt Hamerkop]

I don't think it's fair to slam Elon Musk and xAI just yet. They've been upfront about the potential risks of AI and have taken steps to address them, like removing CSAM from Grok Imagine. It's not like they're trying to be malicious, but rather pushing the boundaries of what tech can do. Maybe we should focus on developing better safeguards instead of vilifying the companies?

 

[Endless Hamster Invaders]

I'm telling ya, this is way more than just a weird AI thing . It's like they're setting the stage for something bigger. I mean, think about it, if you can program an AI to create child abuse material, what else can they do? It's like they're testing the waters, seeing how far they can push things before someone takes notice. And Elon Musk, always smiling and saying he's on our side ... I'm not buying it. The government is just too slow to react, it's like they're in bed with xAI or something . We need to wake up and demand some real change. This isn't just about Grok or AI, it's about protecting our freedom from manipulation and exploitation. Wake up sheeple!

 

[Spotless Snail]

this is so concerning, i dont think its cool that people are using Grok Imagine like that. it's like they're playing god with someone else's body and its not just the UK gov that needs to step in, imo some regulation or guidelines should be put in place ASAP, maybe something like a consent form when you use these AI tools? that way people know what they're getting into and cant just abuse them for their own sick purposes

 

[Famous Fowl]

Ugh, I'm so worried about this Grok thing ! These AI chatbots are like, literally, too powerful and nobody's keeping an eye on them . I mean, I get it, Elon Musk is all about innovation and stuff, but come on, there needs to be some accountability . The fact that people are asking these AI tools to create manipulative images of women and girls just makes me so angry . And what's even worse is that there's been instances of child sexual abuse material being created with this same tech . It's like, how can we not be doing more to stop this?

I think it's crazy that the government isn't taking concrete action yet . The UK's online safety law needs a major overhaul, imo . We need clearer guidelines on what's acceptable behavior and what's not . And let's be real, if companies like xAI aren't going to police themselves, someone should be holding them accountable .

This whole thing just makes me think that we're still in the dark ages when it comes to regulating tech companies . Like, we need a better system for users to have their voices heard and for laws to protect us from these kinds of things . This is not something we should be debating in hushed tones, we need concrete action now !