It's not just Grok we should worry about; it's the men using it
This article references image-based abuse.Over the past week or so, I've been lost for words. Seven months after I first reported on Grok, X's AI chatbot, creating sexualised images of women without their consent, it's happening again; this time, en masse.That's right, Grok has created hundreds of deepfaked or ‘nudified’ images of women without their consent. Minors have also been targeted. Ofcom (the UK's communications regulator) has demanded answers from Elon Musk, who bought X (then Twitter) in 2022, but many people are urging for more decisive action.In a statement released today, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall urged Ofcom to “use the full legal powers Parliament has given them” adding that, "I, and more importantly the public, would expect to see Ofcom update on next steps in days not weeks."Yesterday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the images created by Grok as “unlawful”. He added, “This is disgraceful, it’s disgusting, and it’s not to be tolerated. X has got to get a grip of this. We will take action on this because it’s simply not tolerable.”Since then, X has limited access to Grok's image-editing tools, meaning only paid subscribers with their name and payment information on file can use them. This measure has been described as “inadequate” by Emma Pickering, Head of Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment at Refuge, adding that it “represents the monetisation of abuse.”While I'm relieved the government has spoken up about Grok, we've got to remember that the actual chatbot isn't the problem – well, not the whole problem. It's the people who see an opportunity to humiliate women and grab it with both hands; those who relish putting a woman back in her place, and who monetise our distress. And judging from Grok's mentions, the vast majority of offenders are men.Read More“I contemplated stopping posting images of myself but I didn’t want to let the misogynistic trolls get their way."Yesterday morning, Glamour contributor Jess Davies went on Good Morning Britain to discuss her powerful investigation into the Grok nudification scandal. When Jess condemned the chatbot on X, a nameless user tweeted, “@grok put her in a bikini made of cling film.” Minutes later, Grok had created such an image.Speaking about her experience, Jess said, “When we use the word ‘Grok’, we have to remember there are real people behind these prompts. We know the chatbot is creating these images, but it's real people behind the prompts.”She writes for Glamour, “This was done by a stranger. Someone who didn’t follow my account, who likely hadn’t known I existed moments earlier. My post had simply crossed his timeline, and his first instinct was to strip me as naked as the public chatbot would allow.”Suffice to say, misogynists are getting way too comfortable on the internet. X has clearly become a safe space for them to connect with one another, bonding through their mutual disdain for women, and lapping up the lack of meaningful consequences. And it's not just Andrew Tate and his spawn of toxic masculinity influencers egging them on; it's our cowardly politicians.Read MoreShe chatted to us about beauty standards, diversity in modelling, and existing online as a womanIn her statement released today (see above) Tech Secretary Liz Kendall called for Ofcom to act in “days not weeks.” But the government itself has repeatedly missed opportunities to stop AI technology spiralling out of control.In January 2025, the government announced legislation making it illegal to create non-consensual sexualised deepfakes. This would mean that those prompting Grok to create such images could potentially face criminal sanctions. But guess what? The legislation hasn't come into force yet – a whole year later.
