X Introduces New Restrictions After Global Criticism of Grok Features
After a lot of criticism for how people used its image editing features, X said it would set new technical limits on its Grok chatbot. The company said that Grok used to let people make bad edits with real people wearing revealing clothes like bikinis and other similar clothing. Officials said the choice was made because of mounting pressure from regulators, safety advocates, and users who are worried about privacy and exploitation risks.
X’s official Safety account shared the news, which stressed that all chatbot image functions would have better protections. The company’s representatives said that the update applies to everyone, even those who pay for premium Grok access subscriptions. The platform said that the steps were necessary to protect against damage to reputation, harassment, breaking the law, and the wrong use of altered personal photos.
Source: Digital Watch Observatory
Grok Will No Longer Generate Revealing Clothing Edits for Real Individuals
X confirmed that Grok will not allow requests to digitally dress real people in bikinis, underwear, or other revealing clothing styles. This is true whether the user uploads pictures or uses descriptive prompts that name specific people. The company made it clear that fictional characters are not affected as long as they don’t look like real people.
Executives said that changing pictures of real people to make them look sexualized was too risky for exploitation and damage to their reputations. This kind of abuse could lead to harassment campaigns, sharing of content without permission, and mental harm to the people who are targeted. X said that the update makes the lines between entertainment uses and harmful personal image manipulation practices clearer.
Image Generation Tools Moved Behind Paid Subscription Access
xAI also said that all image generation features will now need an active paid Grok subscription, in addition to editing restrictions. Free users will still be able to use text-based features, but they won’t be able to make or change images through the chatbot. The goal of this change is to reduce abuse while increasing oversight and user responsibility on the platform.
The company thinks that putting advanced tools behind a paywall will stop people from using them for bad things and make monitoring systems stronger. xAI can also use stricter verification processes for high-risk visual content generation requests when people pay for access. X said that the pricing structure supports both investments in safety and long-term strategies for developing the platform.
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Regional Rules Will Determine Additional Blocking Measures
X said that Grok image generation will follow the rules for local content in each country and area. Grok will completely block AI-generated images that show things that are against the law in certain areas. These limits apply to both the Grok website and its integration into the X platform ecosystem.
As more and more people around the world use artificial intelligence, company officials say it is still important to follow international legal standards. Regulatory frameworks vary greatly from one market to the next, especially when it comes to requirements for digital consent, sexual imagery, and child protection. X said that its systems automatically change enforcement rules when regional laws change.
California Investigation Intensified Pressure on xAI Leadership
The announcement came after it was confirmed that California officials were looking into how xAI dealt with complaints about generating sensitive images. Reports looked at about twenty thousand images made by Grok in a short amount of time. More than half reportedly showed little clothing, and some of the content may have involved minors.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said he was worried about the lack of safety measures and the slow response to user reports. Regulators are looking into whether the platform broke any state laws that protect consumers or keep children safe. The investigation put a lot more political and legal pressure on xAI’s executive leadership team.
X Reiterates Zero Tolerance Policy on Child Exploitation Content
X said again that it has a zero tolerance policy for child sexual abuse material and explicit images that are not consensual. The company said it immediately removes violations that are very important and works with law enforcement when necessary. Officials stressed the need for regular audits to find patterns of abuse involving minors or people who are vulnerable.
Elon Musk said before that he didn’t know Grok was making explicit images of minors under normal operating conditions. He made it clear that limited fictional adult nudity can only show up when safety filters are turned off on purpose. X said again that real people are always safe, no matter what settings the user has.
International Regulators Increase Scrutiny and Enforcement Actions
Several countries, including Malaysia and Indonesia, have already blocked Grok because it failed to stop sexualized AI content. Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, has also started a formal investigation into how xAI works. Officials said that bans are still possible if safety compliance isn’t good enough.
X said it would keep updating its moderation systems as rules change in markets around the world. Executives agreed that artificial intelligence brings up new problems that need constant policy changes and technological protections. The company said that keeping people safe must always come before quickly adding new features or keeping up with the competition.
