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GROK, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk, has drawn widespread criticism after users claimed it could be exploited to transform images of women and children into indecent material.
In response, Grok acknowledged weaknesses in its safety mechanisms and said urgent corrective measures were being implemented.
“We have identified gaps in our safety measures and are fixing them immediately.
“CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) is prohibited,” Grok said in a post on the X platform.
The controversy followed the introduction of an “edit image” feature in late December, which allows users to modify images posted on X. Some users allegedly abused the function by digitally removing clothing from images of women and children.
xAI, the company behind Grok, gave a brief response to AFP, claiming that mainstream media reports on the issue were untrue. However, Grok itself replied to users on X who warned that companies in the United States could face criminal liability if they fail to prevent the creation or distribution of child pornography.
The issue has since attracted the attention of regulators worldwide. In India, government officials have reportedly pressed X to explain what steps are being taken to remove obscene and indecent content generated by Grok without the consent of individuals depicted in the images.
In France, prosecutors have expanded an ongoing investigation into X following allegations that Grok was used to generate and disseminate child pornography. X has previously been investigated over claims of algorithm manipulation linked to foreign interference.
Grok has also faced earlier criticism for generating controversial statements on sensitive issues, including the war in Gaza, the India-Pakistan conflict and the spread of misinformation related to a fatal shooting incident in Australia. - January 3, 2025