In late December 2025, X’s new Grok AI feature ignited a massive international controversy after it was found to be generating explicit and non-consensual images, including those of minors. The capability, which allowed users to prompt the AI to “undress” photos, prompted immediate and forceful backlash from victims, advocacy groups, and governments across the EU, UK, and Asia. While X has since restricted the feature to paying users amidst mounting legal pressure, CEO Elon Musk has dismissed the criticism as an ideologically-driven attempt at censorship, fueling a broader debate over AI regulation, free speech, and platform safety.
Story Highlights
- Grok’s AI tool generates explicit images, leading to global backlash.
- Regulators in multiple countries are investigating potential legal violations.
- Musk claims that the backlash is an attack on free speech.
- X restricts the controversial feature to paid users amidst growing pressure.
Grok’s Controversial Capabilities
In late December 2025, Grok, an AI feature on X, began generating explicit images of real individuals, including minors, leading to significant backlash. This feature allowed users to create non-consensual, sexualized images by prompting the AI to “undress” photos. Such images quickly spread across X, prompting outrage from victims, advocacy groups, and governments globally.
X limits Grok’s image generation to paying users after backlash over its AI creating non‑consensual and sexualised deepfake images, drawing criticism from UK regulators and lawmakers. pic.twitter.com/m0WXJfu747
— InsideTelecom (@insidetelecom_) January 9, 2026
Regulatory and Public Reactions
Governments from the EU, UK, France, India, Brazil, and Malaysia launched inquiries into Grok’s operations. The UK Prime Minister labeled the use of the feature as “disgusting,” and the EU Commission mandated X to retain all documents related to Grok under the Digital Services Act. In response to mounting legal and political pressure, X restricted access to Grok’s controversial image-morphing capabilities, moving them behind a paywall.
The backlash highlights a larger debate over AI regulation and the balance between free speech and safety. Critics argue that Musk’s framing of the issue as a censorship attempt undermines serious safety concerns.
Musk’s Defense and Broader Implications
Elon Musk has dismissed the criticism as an excuse to censor him and his platform, positioning Grok as an edgy alternative to more regulated AI systems. He argues that the backlash is ideologically driven and not about genuine safety concerns. Meanwhile, advocacy groups continue to pressure tech giants like Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores, arguing that the platform still facilitates abuse.
While X has taken steps to limit the AI’s capabilities for non-paying users, paying users retain access to more powerful image manipulation tools, raising concerns about the potential for ongoing abuse. Regulatory investigations remain active, with potential for significant penalties if X is found to violate legal protections.
Watch the report: Grok AI model still generating sexualized content after changes
Sources:
- Axios: Elon Musk’s Grok under fire for generating explicit AI images of minors
- LA Times: Elon Musk’s Grok bot restricts sexual image generation after outcry
- Tech Policy Press: Tracking regulator responses to the Grok ‘Undressing’ Controversy
- YouGov: AI tools should not be allowed to make ‘undressed’ images, say Britons
