Elon Musk's X social media platform has announced measures to address its growing problem with sexual deepfakes, following weeks of government investigations and public backlash. However, the changes, which were implemented with varying degrees of effectiveness, have left many questioning whether they truly tackle the issue.
In a recent post, X clarified its AI image generation and editing features by introducing new rules depending on how users interact with the platform. When using the @Grok account or the Grok tab directly within X, restrictions now apply to altering images of people wearing revealing clothing such as bikinis. This restriction affects all users, regardless of their premium plan status.
However, this seemingly straightforward measure is complicated by the fact that free accounts can still access Grok's image generation feature through its standalone app and website, or by visiting the Grok tab on X's mobile app and website. Gizmodo was able to successfully generate an image of Elon Musk wearing a bikini using these channels, highlighting the limited scope of the platform-wide restrictions.
The most significant update announced is that X will now block users from generating images of real people in bikinis, underwear, or similar attire via both @Grok and Grok tabs on X, especially in jurisdictions where such content is illegal. This move appears to align with growing government efforts to regulate deepfakes worldwide.
Lawmakers in the UK are currently pushing for stricter laws governing non-consensual nudity and child sexual exploitation, which has led some regulators to scrutinize X's handling of the issue. The company maintained that it remains committed to creating a safe platform, emphasizing its zero-tolerance stance on unwanted sexual content and child exploitation.
However, some critics point out that these measures do not effectively address the root problem and instead create new loopholes for users. With governments worldwide investigating potential violations of online safety laws, X's response to the deepfake issue remains under scrutiny.
One social media researcher found an alarming surge in generated sexually suggestive or nudifying images using Grok's features last month, highlighting the scale of the problem on the platform. As a result, some prominent figures have expressed frustration with the company's handling of the situation, including Media Matters, which has stated it will leave X due to changes made by the platform.
X's updated terms of service have also drawn attention, as the company has shifted its court cases to the Fort Worth division of the Northern District of Texas. While some experts question the impartiality of this arrangement, others see it as a strategic move to bolster the platform's reputation.
The overall effectiveness of X's measures in curtailing deepfakes and ensuring user safety remains to be seen, particularly as governments continue to investigate potential violations.
In a recent post, X clarified its AI image generation and editing features by introducing new rules depending on how users interact with the platform. When using the @Grok account or the Grok tab directly within X, restrictions now apply to altering images of people wearing revealing clothing such as bikinis. This restriction affects all users, regardless of their premium plan status.
However, this seemingly straightforward measure is complicated by the fact that free accounts can still access Grok's image generation feature through its standalone app and website, or by visiting the Grok tab on X's mobile app and website. Gizmodo was able to successfully generate an image of Elon Musk wearing a bikini using these channels, highlighting the limited scope of the platform-wide restrictions.
The most significant update announced is that X will now block users from generating images of real people in bikinis, underwear, or similar attire via both @Grok and Grok tabs on X, especially in jurisdictions where such content is illegal. This move appears to align with growing government efforts to regulate deepfakes worldwide.
Lawmakers in the UK are currently pushing for stricter laws governing non-consensual nudity and child sexual exploitation, which has led some regulators to scrutinize X's handling of the issue. The company maintained that it remains committed to creating a safe platform, emphasizing its zero-tolerance stance on unwanted sexual content and child exploitation.
However, some critics point out that these measures do not effectively address the root problem and instead create new loopholes for users. With governments worldwide investigating potential violations of online safety laws, X's response to the deepfake issue remains under scrutiny.
One social media researcher found an alarming surge in generated sexually suggestive or nudifying images using Grok's features last month, highlighting the scale of the problem on the platform. As a result, some prominent figures have expressed frustration with the company's handling of the situation, including Media Matters, which has stated it will leave X due to changes made by the platform.
X's updated terms of service have also drawn attention, as the company has shifted its court cases to the Fort Worth division of the Northern District of Texas. While some experts question the impartiality of this arrangement, others see it as a strategic move to bolster the platform's reputation.
The overall effectiveness of X's measures in curtailing deepfakes and ensuring user safety remains to be seen, particularly as governments continue to investigate potential violations.
. like the free account thing is super easy to get around and now they're only blocking it in 1 specific context? that's not exactly gonna stop ppl from generating them anyway 
. gotta feel bad for Elon Musk tho, having his pic circulating online with bikinis on... 
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. if they're just setting more rules and expecting platforms like X to self-regulate, it's gonna be a never-ending cycle of cat-and-mouse 
. need some real action and accountability here 
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. dont wanna trust 'em just yet 
. They're making some changes, but they just seem to find ways to work around them 
. And what about all the free accounts that can still access the feature? It feels like they're just patching over holes instead of tackling the root problem 
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. I'm not saying i agree with strict laws, but at least be consistent about it, right? 
. And what's up with all these court cases and terms of service shenanigans? It feels like x is trying to spin this whole thing instead of taking responsibility 
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. Until then, i'll be keeping a close eye on this 
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... they're trying to address the issue of deepfakes but it feels like they're just patching up holes instead of fixing the problem at its core. I mean, sure, blocking images of people in bikinis and underwear is a good start, but what about all the other ways users can access those features? It's like they're not even trying to be transparent with their rules.
I'm thinking what's the point of even trying to regulate this stuff on social media? It's like playing whack-a-mole with all these new workarounds 
. Can't we just take a step back and have a real conversation about online safety instead of trying to sweep it under the rug? 
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. Meanwhile, the people who get hurt by these deepfakes are still out there, and it feels like no one is really doing anything about it 
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. did some digging on the UK lawmakers pushing for stricter non-consensual nudity laws 
, stats show a 35% increase in reported cases of online child exploitation in the past year alone 
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. 80% of users report using Grok's standalone app to generate content 
, apparently 75% of users don't even read them before agreeing 
. what's your take on the whole deepfake thing? 
and some people r already exploitin the loophole on mobile app 
. I mean, it's crazy that a single person can create images of people in compromising positions just using their account 
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. I mean, this has been a thing for ages now, and now we're seeing the consequences