Grok says image generation and editing are now limited to paid subscribers, after outcry over its use to create sexually explicit and violent imagery
X to limit editing function to paying subscribers after platform threatened with fines and regulatory action
The Guardian Helena Horton
Related Coverage
- X could face UK ban over deepfakes, minister says BBC · Liv McMahon
- X Didn't Fix Grok's ‘Undressing’ Problem. It Just Makes People Pay for It Wired · Matt Burgess
- Musk's AI bot Grok limits image generation on X to paid users after backlash Reuters
- X Is a Power Problem, Not a Platform Problem Connected Places · Laurens Hof
- Democrats ask Apple and Google to remove X's undressing bot from their app stores The Verge · Lauren Feiner
- Dems pressure Google, Apple to drop X app as international regulators turn up heat CyberScoop · Djohnson
- Senators tell Apple to remove X & Grok from App Store because of AI-generated child porn AppleInsider · William Gallagher
- Elon Musk's X Restricts Grok AI Image Editing to Subscribers as Deepfake Scandal Rages Breitbart · Lucas Nolan
- Grok's AI Sexual Abuse Didn't Come Out of Nowhere 404 Media · Samantha Cole
- X Limits Grok AI Image Generation To Paying Subscribers MediaPost · Colin Kirkland
- Why AI could mark the end of Big Tech's invincibility Semafor · Reed Albergotti
- Elon Musk restricts Grok's image tools following a wave of non-consensual deepfakes of women and children Fortune · Beatrice Nolan
- xAI Paywalls Grok Image Generation amid CSAM Outcry, UK Calls Move “Insulting” WinBuzzer · Markus Kasanmascheff
- Grok limits image generation to paid subscribers UPI · Lisa Hornung
- Should AI be banned from social media? Take our poll and have your say Mirror · Lauren Gordon
- After ‘digital undressing’ criticism, Elon Musk's Grok limits some image generation to paid subscribers CNN · Hadas Gold
- Government instruct Ofcom to use ‘all powers’ against X, including potential ban Canary · Alex
- X under fire for Grok's generation of sexualised and violent images Music Ally · Stuart Dredge
- Elon Musk's Grok App Restricts AI Image Editing Tool After Backlash PetaPixel · Matt Growcoot
- Sexualized image threats: X limits Grok AI image edits to paid users amid backlash The American Bazaar · Shubhangi Chowdhury
- Grok Restricts Image Generation After Backlash Over Explicit AI Imagery eWeek
- X Limits AI Chatbot Grok's Image Generation, Editing to Subs After Uproar Over Sexualized Deepfakes The Hollywood Reporter · Georg Szalai
- EU Extends X Retention Order Over Sexualised Images Silicon UK · Matthew Broersma
- X Faces Bans in Several Regions Over Grok-Produced Images Social Media Today · Andrew Hutchinson
- The Killer App — I suppose a subscription CSAM app might be the way MECHAHITLER manages to make money … Eschaton · Atrios
- As of this morning I see that X has only decided to take down the image generator aspect of Grok by way of a technicality. … Rory Brooke
- While it is a step forward to have removed the universal access to Grok's disgusting nudifying features, this still means paying users can take images … Jess Asato MP
- Democrats in Congress are asking Apple and Google to enforce their rules and remove X from their app stores because it's now an AI undressing/deepfake porn app. — Let's see if either company dares risk pissing off Mr Roman Salute himself. — https://www.theverge.com/... @carnage4life@mas.to · Dare Obasanjo
- Musk with an absolute baller move, monetising paedophilia. #Musk #Grok #AI — (only _paying_ users can be nonces and sex offenders, now). — Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery — https://www.theguardian.com/ ... @xtaldave@social.vivaldi.net
- Grok turns off image generator for most after outcry over sexualised AI imagery Hacker News
- Democratic senators Ron Wyden, Ed Markey, and Ben Ray Luján urge Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes NBC News · Kevin Collier
- Masterful Gambit: Musk Attempts to Monetize Grok's Wave of Sexual Abuse Imagery 404 Media · Samantha Cole
- Grok's paywall can't hide its deepfake problem Tech Brew · Saira Mueller
- Musk's Grok chatbot restricts image generation after global backlash to sexualized deepfakes Associated Press · Kelvin Chan
- X limits sexualized AI deepfakes to paying customers The A.V. Club · Drew Gillis
- X's half-assed attempt to paywall Grok doesn't block free image editing Ars Technica · Ashley Belanger
- Elon Musk's Grok faces global scrutiny for sexualised AI photos Reuters · Hugo Lhomedet
- Canada's AI minister condemns deepfake sexual abuse amid X nude images controversy MobileSyrup · Bradly Shankar
- X Limits Grok Image Tool To Subscribers After Deepfake Outcry Deadline · Jesse Whittock
- Grok limits AI image editing to paid users after nudes backlash Le Monde
- Elon Musk's Grok AI goes paid amid explicit image controversy: What we know Digit · Bhaskar Sharma
- Musk's Grok restricts image generator after complaints over sexualized photos Axios · Andrew Childers
- U.S. Senators Ask Apple and Google to Remove X and Grok Apps Over Sexualized Image Generation MacRumors · Eric Slivka
- Grok says it has restricted image generation to subscribers after deepfake concerns. But has it? Mashable · Rachel Thompson
- Grok image editing limited on X after users prompt AI deepfakes Silicon Republic · Suhasini Srinivasaragavan
- Elon Musk's Bot Lies About Locking Deepfake Nudity Factory Behind A Paywall Kotaku · John Walker
- Lawmakers call on app stores to remove Grok, X over sexualized deepfakes The Record · Suzanne Smalley
- Elon Musk Moves to Monetize Grok Deepfake Abuse, UK Calls It Insulting Gizmodo · Bruce Gil
- Elon Musk's Grok limits image generation to paying users Euractiv · Anupriya Datta
- Elon Musk's X restricts Grok AI image editing to paid users amid deepfake backlash Moneycontrol · Shaurya Shubham
- X Limits AI Image Editing to Paid Users After Grok Deepfake Controversy Spurs U.K. Ban Threat Variety · Naman Ramachandran
- Elon Musk's Grok restricts AI image editing to paid users as criticism grows Irish Independent · Adrian Weckler
- X cracks down on Grok after image generation backlash HuffPost
- Grok's AI image generator blocked for general X users after massive backlash Business Today
- Elon Musk's X finally ‘explains itself’ to Ofcom after Grok ‘undressed’ women Metro.co.uk · Josh Milton
- Elon Musk's startup xAI has limited the image generation tool on its Grok chatbot to paying subscribers of social media platform X Quartz · Niamh Rowe
- X's response to sexual images of kids scandal branded ‘insult’ by No10 as row deepens Mirror
- Grok porn image scandal erupts, pushing X to limit AI image creation to paid accounts Gizchina · Efe Udin
- X Faces International Ban As Grok AI Makes Non-Consensual Images Of Young Stars Screen Rant · Abigail Stevens
- If “generating unlawful images” is now a premium feature over at Twitter, presumably the police in the UK should consider a blue tick as probable cause for an investigation? — https://www.theguardian.com/ ... @webmink@meshed.cloud · Simon Phipps
- Grok's Paywall Gambit: xAI Shields Innovation from Censorship Onslaught WebProNews · Corey Blackwell
- X restricts Grok's image generation to paying subscribers only after drawing the world's ire TechCrunch · Ram Iyer
- Elon Musk's AI bot Grok limits image generation amid deepfakes backlash Al Jazeera
- Grok Is Being Used to Mock and Strip Women in Hijabs and Saris Wired · Kat Tenbarge
- Elon Musk's xAI tightens Grok image controls on X after sexualised content row The Indian Express
- Musk claims outcry over Grok deepfakes ‘excuse for censorship’ RTÉ
- Musk claims outcry over Grok deepfakes used as an ‘excuse for censorship’ The Independent · Tara Cobham
- Elon Musk defends his ‘revenge porn’ generator's right to exist Canary · Willem Moore
- Musk says X outcry is ‘excuse for censorship’ BBC · Tabby Wilson
- X is restricting Grok's image capabilities via the @grok command for free users, but they can still create sexual deepfakes via X's “Edit image” or Grok's app The Verge · Robert Hart
- The UK government says the move by X to limit Grok to paid users is “insulting” and basically monetising abuse, and they would support a ban of X in the UK if recommended by the regulator. They've asked the regulator for recommendations in days. https://www.bbc.co.uk/... [image] @GossiTheDog@cyberplace.social · Kevin Beaumont
- Elon Musk has accuses critics of his social media site X of looking for “any excuse for censorship”, after its AI chatbot Grok created sexualized images of people without their knowledge or consent. https://www.bbc.com/... @newsguyusa@flipboard.social · Steve Herman
- Musk accuses Labour of being fascist Telegraph
- The UK government says X restricting Grok's image creation to paid users is insulting as it just makes the ability to generate unlawful images a premium service The Guardian
- Grok and X should be suspended from Apple, Google app stores, Democratic senators say CNBC · Lora Kolodny
- UK government signals support for regulator banning X, Musk fumes Euractiv · Claudie Moreau
- Well, looks like we know what the richest man in the world is behind. — BBC article: “....Ashley St Clair, the mother of one of Elon Musk's children, told BBC Newshour on Friday that Grok had generated sexualised photos of her as a child. ...” — https://www.bbc.com/... [image] @ai6yr@m.ai6yr.org
Discussion
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@miles_brundage
Miles Brundage
on x
I hope this Grok stuff wakes up the policy teams at other companies re: the fact that to a significant extent, the weakest links in the industry reflect on the industry as a whole, and this should inform one's thinking on ideal regulation
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@mikeisaac
Rat King
on x
im a bit slow so forgive me but im not exactly sure how “you can only create AI generated nonconsensual porn or violence if you pay us” is a solution that will calm anyone who was upset about this [image]
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@brianod_news
Brian O'Donovan
on x
X has limited image edit functions on Grok to paid subscribers. In response to one user this morning, Grok said “This change addresses recent misuse concerns.” @rtenews [image]
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@grok
@grok
on x
@EnzoChavez4 Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers. You can subscribe to unlock these features: https://x.com/...
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@toilandtroublemedia.com
@toilandtroublemedia.com
on bluesky
So instead of preventing his signature AI from creating nude pictures of children, Musk MONETIZED it. — Just another problem solved-courtesy of MAGA capitalism. — TnT — www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2...
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@samleecole
Sam Cole
on bluesky
putting it behind a paywall is not “turning it off” lol what www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2...
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@joeuchill
Joe Uchill
on bluesky
Twitter's solution to making CSAM for free is to make CSAM for profit.
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@mantzarlis.com
Alexios Mantzarlis
on bluesky
You don't get to turn your chatbot into a tool of mass sexualized harassment and then two weeks later say the problem is fixed because the abusers have to pay for the privilege.
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@climateadam
Dr Adam Levy
on bluesky
the image generation is illegal and immoral and... ... now for paying customers only! — problem solved! — www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
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@joenoonan
Joe Noonan
on bluesky
The UK government says limiting Grok AI image edits to paid X users is insulting to victims of misogyny and sexual violence. — Which is true as far as it goes. — Q. When do prosecutions begin? — www.bbc.com/news/article...
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@seachange12
@seachange12
on bluesky
You have to pay to get your daily dose of AI child porn and rape fantasies now. — Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery — www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2...
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@justinhendrix
Justin Hendrix
on bluesky
“Elon Musk's startup xAI has restricted the image generation function on its Grok chatbot on social media platform X to paid subscribers, after the tool's use of AI to create sexualized images sparked a widespread backlash.” www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
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@socialmedialab.ca
@socialmedialab.ca
on bluesky
X turns off image generator for non-subscribers after outcry over sexualized AI imagery, following threats of fines and regulatory action. www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2... Limiting access to Grok doesn't address the underlying problem w/the image generator, instead it turns i…
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@gsoh31
Glen O'Hara
on bluesky
This is even worse in some ways! 'Hey, pay us a bribe to violate women's bodies and privacy' - that'd their ad line now. They're laughing at those pathetic govts that dare say a word. — www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2...
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@missingthept
@missingthept
on bluesky
Elon Musk unveils new CSAM+ subscription service.
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@brexitpirates
@brexitpirates
on bluesky
Not good enough. — And in typical Musk style, only those who pay will be able to generate violent and sexually abusive images... www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2...
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@davidgerard.co.uk
@davidgerard.co.uk
on bluesky
ever since the guardian did that OpenAI deal, the editorial line has been solid hype and criti-hype [embedded post]
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@missingthept
@missingthept
on bluesky
Elon Musk explains that Grok has only two settings, CSAM and MechaHitler, asks “Which do you prefer?”
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@gadget44027447
@gadget44027447
on bluesky
🚨 After outrage over X users having the ability to undress women and children with Grok due to Elon Musk's incompetence and degeneracy, instead of removing or reprogramming the feature, he has just made child porn exclusive to paying subscribers. — www.bbc.com/news/article...
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@bastardsheep.com
@bastardsheep.com
on bluesky
So X hasn't stopped Grok from generating CSAM and abuse material, they've simply put it behind a paywall. — Tell me again why government accounts, politicians, services are still using X? #AusPol
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@trufflehog
@trufflehog
on bluesky
So after a few days of entirely legitimate outrage of at the CSAM slopmachine, the ""solution"" is to paywall it - almost like all the worst people in the world were advertised to for a few days that only for 10bux they can happily continue ... www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2.…
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@seanjones.org
Sean Jones KC
on bluesky
So now you can only make sexualised deepfakes if X is making money out of it?
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@peterwalker99
Peter Walker
on bluesky
Any government officials thinking, ‘Well, this gets us in the clear over X’ should perhaps be reminded that it's still a cesspool of racism, antisemitism and misogyny, and is owned by a far-right ethno-nationalist who openly calls for civil conflict in the UK. — www.theguardian…
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@andyscollick
Andy Scollick
on bluesky
Now all those pathetic excuses for human beings we call ‘politicians’, such as Keir Starmer and Micheál Martin, can feel OK with continuing to use FascistX, formerly Twitter.
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@carnage4life
Dare Obasanjo
on bluesky
X has decided to limit access to using Grok to create deepfake porn and CSAM to paying subscribers. — This article makes it sound like a response to the outcry but this just sounds like a business move to monetize creating illegal content.
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@stormageddon
@stormageddon
on bluesky
So, basically, as long as they get paid for depicting sexual abuse, they're fine with it. — The depravity knows no boundaries.
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@docbaty
Steve Baty
on bluesky
Making it a paid feature is hardly an improvement! Grok is a sexual abuse and exploitation tool - it should be decommissioned — www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2...
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@ketanjoshi.co
Ketan Joshi
on bluesky
The Guardian doing inexplicable voluntary free public relations work for a corporation profiting from sexual abuse by headlining this as the image gen being “turned off”. It isn't off: they've just monetised it. What the fuck are we doing here people, come on. — www.theguardi…
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@pogue.omg.lol
@pogue.omg.lol
on bluesky
Hurray! They finally disabled image generation for Grok! 🥳 — *𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦* — “X to limit editing function to paying subscribers...” …
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@mattburgess1
Matt Burgess
on bluesky
It does appear that X has limited the accounts that can create images using Grok. — Tested creating a nature image on X from a free account and it did not create one. A free account on Grok's website and app could create images. — On X, Grok is still being used to create som…
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@glynmoody
Glyn Moody
on bluesky
#Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery - www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2... so it's fine for richer people to create child sexual abuse imagery....
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@margaretmorgan
Margaret Morgan
on bluesky
What a typically Musk response. Grok won't be able to make child porn or rape videos any longer... except for paying subscribers. — Because nothing matters more than money. — www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2...
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@mrrobertbob
Mr RobertBob
on bluesky
Oh ok, so X just makes money now from child porn and sexualising the images of people without permission. — So much better. 🙄 — www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2...
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@petefrasermusic
Pete Fraser
on bluesky
Breaking News: Twitter now only sells child porn rather than giving it away for free. Glad they've solved this worrying problem. — www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2...
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@metacurity.com
Cynthia Brumfield
on bluesky
Musk did this only under pressure and only after days of gleefully mocking critics. [embedded post]
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@kyledchurch
Kyle
on bluesky
oh so... people can and will still do it, and we know bluechecks are some of the worst for it? [embedded post]
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@mgraalum
@mgraalum
on bluesky
CSAM but only for paying customers [embedded post]
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r/technology
r
on reddit
Democrats ask Apple and Google to remove X's undressing bot from their app stores / Grok's nonconsensual deepfakes violate the app stores' terms of service, the senators argue.
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r/tech
r
on reddit
X Didn't Fix Grok's ‘Undressing’ Problem. It Just Makes People Pay for It
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r/grok
r
on reddit
X Didn't Fix Grok's ‘Undressing’ Problem. It Just Makes People Pay for It
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@benjamingoggin
Ben Goggin
on x
After further testing, Grok will still produce nonconsensual sexual images in the Grok tab on X, on the Grok website, and in the Grok app, even for non-paying users. The only pullback has been on the capabilities of the @grok reply bot. https://www.nbcnews.com/...
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@sesmith.lol
S. E. Smith
on bluesky
Outstanding, why stop at running a CSAM machine when you can also profit off it? And of course it's called SuperGrok.
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@zombiewretch
Jess Weatherbed
on bluesky
You may have seen reports swimming around claiming that X finally restricted the Grok deepfake/undressing features behind a paid subscription. — That simply isn't true. Not even close. www.theverge.com/news/859309/ ...
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@prietschka
Paul Rietschka
on bluesky
What's happened here is Musk has made the choice to turn off safety systems. — Normally, these models contain instructions not to generate harmful outputs, Musk has simply disabled these. — This a choice and, once again, Musk has not been held accountable. Is he ever held to…
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@carolinehaskins
Caroline Haskins
on bluesky
Senators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Lujan, and Ed Markey just published an open letter urging Apple + Google to remove the X and Grok apps from their app stores: — www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne... [embedded post]
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@danny.page
Danny Page
on bluesky
Honeypot trap set for any attorney general willing to use it: www.404media.co/x-premium-gr... [embedded post]
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@drsmith
James Andrew Smith
on bluesky
Elon's Grok is a pedo machine by design. The only way to make it stop is to delete it. [embedded post]
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@newschambers
Richard Chambers
on bluesky
So yes, my instinct here was right. — It appears that only the most public “@grok” prompts are being stopped. — www.theverge.com/news/859309/ ...
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@samadams
Sam Adams
on bluesky
And whaddya know, they're lying even about that
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r/technology
r
on reddit
No, Grok hasn't paywalled its deepfake image feature
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r/EnoughMuskSpam
r
on reddit
Masterful Gambit: Musk Attempts to Monetize Grok's Wave of Sexual Abuse Imagery
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r/google
r
on reddit
Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
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r/Futurology
r
on reddit
Masterful Gambit: Musk Attempts to Monetize Grok's Wave of Sexual Abuse Imagery
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r/Fauxmoi
r
on reddit
Grok hasn't been paywalled after all, it was just reported it had because that's what Grok told media outlets.
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r/technology
r
on reddit
Masterful Gambit: Musk Attempts to Monetize Grok's Wave of Sexual Abuse Imagery
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r/politics
r
on reddit
Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
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r/oregon
r
on reddit
Wyden, other Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
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r/technology
r
on reddit
Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
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r/apple
r
on reddit
Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
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@watchdogprg
@watchdogprg
on bluesky
No 10 condemns ‘insulting’ move by X to restrict Grok AI image tool. — Spokesperson says limiting access to paying subscribers just makes ability to generate unlawful images a premium service. www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2...
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@jf2u
@jf2u
on bluesky
So... in moving the feature to the premium service, Grok is basically selling AI generated porn. — I'm guessing X would capture details such as who uses the service *and* generates images, which could make anyone who uses it to simulate naked children traceable by the UK...and …
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r/LabourUK
r
on reddit
No 10 condemns ‘insulting’ move by X to restrict Grok AI image tool
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r/unitedkingdom
r
on reddit
No 10 condemns ‘insulting’ move by X to restrict Grok AI image tool
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@jess4lowestoft
Jess Asato MP
on x
While it is a step forward to have removed the universal access to Grok's disgusting nudifying features, paying to put semen, bullet holes or bikinis on women is still digital sexual assault and XAi should disable the feature for good. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
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@carnage4life
Dare Obasanjo
on bluesky
Democrats in Congress are asking Apple and Google to enforce their rules and remove X from their app stores because it's now an AI undressing/deepfake porn app. — Let's see if either company dares risk pissing off Mr Roman Salute himself.
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r/LabourUK
r
on reddit
No, Grok hasn't paywalled its deepfake image feature
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r/technews
r
on reddit
Grok Is Being Used to Mock and Strip Women in Hijabs and Sarees
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@pamspaulding
Pam Spaulding
on bluesky
“Grok is generating more than 1,500 harmful images per hour, including undressing photos, sexualizing them [girls & women], and adding nudity.” — FLASHBACK — JD Vance: “I'm a Grok guy. I think it's the best. It's also the least woke.” (bsky.app/profile/atru...) — 🧾 WIRED: …
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@maryannefranks
Mary Anne Franks
on bluesky
“the latest weaponization of Grok involves forms of control over women's likenesses that may fall outside the criminal definitions of image-based sexual abuse, but represent a more frightening advance in technology that aligns with the desire to control women.” www.wired.com/stor…
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r/EnoughMuskSpam
r
on reddit
Musk says outcry over X's Grok service is ‘excuse for censorship’
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@princess-vimentin
Princess Vimentin PhD
on bluesky
“Lmao cope and seethe, @grok makes Muslim women look normal...” Said one user, as he posted a screenshot of an image. — As an ethnic woman, I find this really disturbing. Indian sarees & hijabs were the most common. — Grok generates >1500 harmful images per hr. — #Pinks …
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@chrisward.de
Chris Ward
on bluesky
I forget... how many people have been detained at the US border for writing something on X? — It's not about free speech. It never was. Don't let them claim it. — www.bbc.com/news/article...
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@seniormcgeezer
@seniormcgeezer
on bluesky
When perverts program the algorithms, perversions — are what you get. — www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2... [image]
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@thiccreese
Reece
on bluesky
Since then, WIRED reporters have continued to focus on the victims harmed by these AI tools, and the utter lack of response or accountability of any kind from tech leaders. — www.wired.com/story/grok-i...
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@anet2111
@anet2111
on bluesky
The world of AI grows more sinister every day. First it was men undressing women by using AI on our social media images. And now this. — www.wired.com/story/grok-i...