Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, has disabled its image creation and editing features for non-paying users following widespread backlash over the generation of sexualised deepfake images of women and children. The move comes amid mounting legal threats, regulatory scrutiny, and criticism from multiple governments.
The controversy erupted after reports that users exploited Grok to create explicit images, including depictions of undressed women and minors placed in sexualised positions. In response, Grok announced on Musk’s social media platform X that image generation is now restricted to paying subscribers only.
The restriction means free users can no longer generate or edit images using the AI tool, while paying customers must provide credit card details and personal information to access the feature. Musk has warned that anyone using Grok to produce illegal content will face consequences similar to those imposed for uploading unlawful material.
Regulators in Europe have taken decisive action, with the European Commission declaring the images unlawful and ordering X to preserve all internal documents and data related to Grok until the end of 2026. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned the content, describing it as illegal and stating that Britain would not tolerate such material.
Several other countries, including France, Malaysia and India, have criticised the platform over the issue. X’s official Safety account said the company removes illegal content, permanently suspends offending accounts, and cooperates with governments and law enforcement agencies when necessary.