LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA) – Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok is facing intense global scrutiny after its image tools were linked to the creation of sexualised deepfake images, forcing the platform to restrict key features to paying users.
The controversy has reignited urgent debates around AI safety, digital abuse and the real-world harm caused by deepfakes, particularly to women and children.
The restriction follows international backlash from governments and regulators who warned of fines and sanctions over Grok’s ability to manipulate online images, including altering photos to remove clothing.
Critics argue the technology enabled harassment, misogyny and child exploitation, placing pressure on Musk’s platform X to act swiftly.
In a post responding to users on Friday, Grok announced the change directly on X.
“Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers. You can subscribe to unlock these features,” it announced.
Under the new policy, non-paying users are barred from creating or modifying images, while subscribers must provide credit card details and personal information to access the tools.
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However, the move has done little to calm critics. Political leaders and regulators say a paywall does not prevent abuse and instead risks commercialising harm.
The office of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, condemned the decision, calling it “insulting” to victims.
Furthermore, European regulators echoed similar concerns. EU digital affairs spokesman Thomas Regnier said the bloc had “taken note of the recent changes” but stressed that access fees were beside the point.
“This doesn’t change our fundamental issue, paid subscription or non-paid subscription. We don’t want to see such images. It’s as simple as that. What we’re asking platforms to do is to make sure that their design, that their systems, do not allow the generation of such illegal content,” he said.
In response to the growing controversy, the European Commission ordered X to preserve all internal documents and data related to Grok until the end of 2026.
Countries like France, Malaysia and India have also publicly criticised the platform, citing the rapid spread of AI-generated nude images and the difficulty of containing them once released online.
Musk has attempted to draw a line on responsibility, warning users of consequences for misuse.
“Anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content,” he wrote on X.
Reinforcing that stance, X’s official Safety account said illegal material is handled “by removing it, permanently suspending accounts, and working with local governments and law enforcement as necessary.”
The Grok backlash underscores a growing global concern that deepfake technology is outpacing regulation, leaving victims exposed while platforms scramble to respond. With pressure mounting from regulators and advocacy groups, the episode highlights the urgent need for stronger AI laws to safeguard users and address harm at its source.
