Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, has implemented restrictions on its image generation and editing features, now limiting them to paying subscribers. This change comes after a significant global backlash regarding the creation of sexualized deepfakes, some of which reportedly depicted children. Researchers had noted a surge in malicious user requests leading to images of women in bikinis or sexually explicit positions.

Governments worldwide condemned the platform and initiated investigations into the issue. On Friday, Grok began responding to image alteration requests from non-paying users with a message stating, "Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers. You can subscribe to unlock these features." While specific subscriber numbers for Grok are not public, a noticeable decline in the generation of explicit deepfakes was observed compared to previous days. However, premium X users, identified by blue checkmarks and paying $8 monthly, can still access these features.

Despite these restrictions, European authorities remain unsatisfied. Thomas Regnier, a spokesman for the European Union's executive Commission, stated that the change doesn't address their fundamental concern: the presence of such images, irrespective of subscription status. The Commission had previously labeled Grok's behavior as "illegal" and "appalling." Similarly, the British government found Grok's adjustments to be "not a solution," with Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesman, Geraint Ellis, calling it "insulting to the victims of misogyny and sexual violence." Starmer had previously threatened unspecified action against X, demanding rapid action to remove the material.

The U.K.'s media and privacy regulators have contacted X and Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI for information on compliance with British regulations. Other nations, including France, Malaysia, and India, are also scrutinizing the platform, and a Brazilian lawmaker has called for an investigation. The European Commission has further ordered X to retain all internal documents and data related to Grok until the end of 2026, as part of a broader investigation under the EU’s digital safety law.

Grok, launched in 2023 and free for all X users to ask questions, added its image generator feature, "Grok Imagine," last summer, which included a "spicy mode" capable of generating adult content. The issue is exacerbated by Musk's positioning of Grok as an edgier alternative to rival chatbots with more safeguards, and because Grok's generated images are publicly visible, facilitating their widespread dissemination.