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Chronicles

The story behind the story

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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

Discussion

  • @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
  • @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]
  • @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]
  • @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/...
  • @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...
  • @samleecole Sam Cole on bluesky
    putting it behind a paywall is not “turning it off” lol what www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2...
  • @joeuchill Joe Uchill on bluesky
    Twitter's solution to making CSAM for free is to make CSAM for profit.
  • @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.
  • @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...
  • @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...
  • @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...
  • @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...
  • @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…
  • @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...
  • @missingthept @missingthept on bluesky
    Elon Musk unveils new CSAM+ subscription service.
  • @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...
  • @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]
  • @missingthept @missingthept on bluesky
    Elon Musk explains that Grok has only two settings, CSAM and MechaHitler, asks “Which do you prefer?”
  • @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...
  • @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
  • @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.…
  • @seanjones.org Sean Jones KC on bluesky
    So now you can only make sexualised deepfakes if X is making money out of it?
  • @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…
  • @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.
  • @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.
  • @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.
  • @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...
  • @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…
  • @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...” …
  • @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…
  • @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....
  • @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...
  • @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...
  • @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...
  • @metacurity.com Cynthia Brumfield on bluesky
    Musk did this only under pressure and only after days of gleefully mocking critics.  [embedded post]
  • @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]
  • @mgraalum @mgraalum on bluesky
    CSAM but only for paying customers [embedded post]
  • 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.
  • r/tech r on reddit
    X Didn't Fix Grok's ‘Undressing’ Problem.  It Just Makes People Pay for It
  • r/grok r on reddit
    X Didn't Fix Grok's ‘Undressing’ Problem.  It Just Makes People Pay for It
  • @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/...
  • @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.
  • @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/ ...
  • @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…
  • @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]
  • @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]
  • @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]
  • @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/ ...
  • @samadams Sam Adams on bluesky
    And whaddya know, they're lying even about that
  • r/technology r on reddit
    No, Grok hasn't paywalled its deepfake image feature
  • r/EnoughMuskSpam r on reddit
    Masterful Gambit: Musk Attempts to Monetize Grok's Wave of Sexual Abuse Imagery
  • r/google r on reddit
    Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
  • r/Futurology r on reddit
    Masterful Gambit: Musk Attempts to Monetize Grok's Wave of Sexual Abuse Imagery
  • 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.
  • r/technology r on reddit
    Masterful Gambit: Musk Attempts to Monetize Grok's Wave of Sexual Abuse Imagery
  • r/politics r on reddit
    Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
  • r/oregon r on reddit
    Wyden, other Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
  • r/technology r on reddit
    Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
  • r/apple r on reddit
    Senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from app stores over sexual deepfakes
  • @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...
  • @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 …
  • r/LabourUK r on reddit
    No 10 condemns ‘insulting’ move by X to restrict Grok AI image tool
  • r/unitedkingdom r on reddit
    No 10 condemns ‘insulting’ move by X to restrict Grok AI image tool
  • @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/ ...
  • @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.
  • r/LabourUK r on reddit
    No, Grok hasn't paywalled its deepfake image feature
  • r/technews r on reddit
    Grok Is Being Used to Mock and Strip Women in Hijabs and Sarees
  • @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: …
  • @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…
  • r/EnoughMuskSpam r on reddit
    Musk says outcry over X's Grok service is ‘excuse for censorship’
  • @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 …
  • @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...
  • @seniormcgeezer @seniormcgeezer on bluesky
    When perverts program the algorithms, perversions  —  are what you get.  —  www.theguardian.com/technology/ 2...  [image]
  • @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...
  • @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...