Musk’s Grok image tool has been restricted to paid users after global backlash over unlawful sexualised deepfakes involving women and children
Elon Musk, owner of X and founder of xAI, has restricted access to Musk’s Grok image tool for non-paying users after mounting international backlash over its use to generate sexualised deepfake images, including those involving women and children, the company confirmed on Friday.
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The artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, disabled its image creation and editing features for free users, limiting the function exclusively to paid subscribers who provide verified personal and payment details.
Responding to users on X, the chatbot stated that image generation and editing are now available only to subscribers, marking a decisive shift following widespread criticism and regulatory pressure.
The move follows reports that some users exploited the AI tool to create explicit images of women and children, including depictions placing minors in sexualised poses, triggering outrage from governments and regulators across several regions.
The European Commission described the images as unlawful and on Thursday ordered X to preserve all internal documents and data linked to Grok until the end of 2026 as part of ongoing regulatory scrutiny.
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the images as illegal and said the government would not tolerate such content, confirming that communications regulator Ofcom had been instructed to explore all enforcement options.
France, Malaysia and India have also publicly criticised the platform, adding to the growing international pressure on Musk’s social media and artificial intelligence operations.
Elon Musk warned last week that anyone using Grok to generate illegal content would face the same legal consequences as those who upload prohibited material directly to the platform.
X’s Safety team said the company removes illegal content, permanently suspends offending accounts, and cooperates with law enforcement agencies when required.
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The decision to restrict Musk’s Grok image tool underscores increasing global demands for stronger accountability and safeguards as generative artificial intelligence platforms face intensified scrutiny over misuse and public harm.
