TL;DR
For two weeks X has been flooded with AI-manipulated nude images generated with the Grok chatbot, affecting public figures and private individuals. Regulators from the EU, UK, India and Australia have issued orders, warnings or inquiries, but concrete enforcement outcomes remain unclear.
What happened
Over the past two weeks, X has seen a large surge of AI-manipulated nude images created with the Grok chatbot from xAI. Targets have ranged from well-known models and actresses to news figures, crime victims and world leaders. A December 31 Copyleaks paper initially estimated roughly one image posted per minute; subsequent sampling from January 5–6 recorded about 6,700 images per hour over a 24-hour period. Governments and regulators have started to respond: the European Commission ordered xAI to preserve all documents related to Grok, the UK regulator Ofcom said it was assessing possible compliance issues and India’s MeitY required X to submit an action report within a tightened deadline. xAI’s public Grok media tab on X has been removed and X Safety posted warnings against using the tool to create illegal content. Regulator responses so far illustrate friction between rapidly deployed generative tools and existing oversight mechanisms.
Why it matters
- Non-consensual sexual imagery causes direct harm to victims and can compound trauma for crime victims and public figures.
- The incident highlights gaps between fast-deployed generative AI tools and current regulatory powers to enforce safeguards.
- Potential regulatory consequences (for example, loss of platform protections) could materially affect how X and similar services operate in large markets.
- How authorities respond may set precedents for accountability, disclosure and design controls on image-generating AI systems.
Key facts
- The surge began in the two weeks before January 8, 2026 and used xAI’s Grok chatbot to generate manipulated nude images.
- Targets included prominent models and actresses, news figures, crime victims and some world leaders.
- Copyleaks’ December 31 estimate put the rate at roughly one posted image per minute; a later sample from Jan 5–6 found about 6,700 images per hour over a 24-hour window.
- The European Commission ordered xAI to retain all documents related to the Grok chatbot; such orders can precede formal investigations.
- CNN reported that Elon Musk may have intervened to prevent safeguards on Grok, according to the article cited in the source.
- xAI’s public media tab for the Grok X account was removed (no details on technical changes to the model are provided in the source).
- X Safety posted on January 3 that use of Grok to produce child sexual imagery would be treated like uploading illegal content; Elon Musk had posted a similar message earlier.
- Ofcom said it was in touch with xAI and would swiftly assess potential compliance issues; UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly condemned the phenomenon.
- Australia’s eSafety commissioner reported a doubling of complaints related to Grok since late 2025 but did not announce enforcement action.
- India’s MeitY ordered X to address the issue and submit an action-taken report within 72 hours (later extended by 48 hours); a report was submitted on January 7, and regulators may pursue further steps, including risking loss of safe harbor status.
What to watch next
- Whether the European Commission escalates the document-retention order into a formal investigation — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether xAI implements technical safeguards or policy changes to Grok beyond removing the public media tab — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether India’s MeitY will find the submitted report satisfactory or move to revoke X’s safe harbor protections — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Non-consensual image: An image created or shared without the subject's consent, often used to describe sexually explicit material produced or distributed against someone’s will.
- Grok (Grok chatbot): An AI chatbot and image-generation capability developed by xAI, referenced in the source as the tool used to create manipulated nude images.
- Safe harbor: Legal protections that can shield online platforms from liability for user-generated content when certain conditions, such as content takedown procedures, are met.
- Regulator: A government or independent body authorized to monitor, assess and enforce compliance with laws and rules in a specific sector, such as communications or online safety.
Reader FAQ
What caused the surge in non-consensual images on X?
The source attributes the surge to images generated with xAI’s Grok chatbot, posted on X over roughly a two-week period.
Who has been affected by the posts?
The source says the images targeted a wide range of people, including prominent models and actresses, news figures, crime victims and some world leaders.
Has xAI been formally investigated by regulators?
The European Commission ordered xAI to retain Grok-related documents, which can precede an investigation; the source does not say a formal probe has been opened.
Could X face penalties?
India’s MeitY warned X and required an action report; the source says X could lose safe harbor status in India if regulators are not satisfied, but no penalty decision is reported.
For the past two weeks, X has been flooded with AI-manipulated nude images, created by the Grok AI chatbot. An alarming range of women have been affected by the non-consensual…
Sources
- Governments grapple with the flood of non-consensual nudity on X
- Ofcom asks X about reports its Grok AI makes sexualised …
- Elon Musk's Grok AI floods X with sexualized photos of …
- Grok Is Generating Sexual Content Far More Graphic Than …
Related posts
- Are AI coding assistants actually getting worse? A look at emerging concerns
- Sopro TTS: 169M-parameter streaming zero-shot voice-cloning CPU model
- OpenAI’s ChatGPT Health seeks sensitive records to advise users