**Elon Musk's X Under Fire: Grok Restrictions Criticized as Inadequate Amid Global Backlash**
Elon Musk's social media platform, X, has announced that it will block AI tool Grok from altering images of real people to show them in "revealing clothing" in places where it is illegal. However, users have been reporting that nothing has changed, sparking widespread criticism and calls for stronger action.
The controversy surrounds the use of Grok, an AI-powered image editing tool embedded in X, which has been accused of being used to create non-consensual sexualized images of people, including children. Gardaí are currently investigating 200 reports of suspected child sexual abuse material linked to Grok, and the issue has sparked a global backlash.
Niamh Smyth, Minister of State responsible for AI, said she is meeting with X representatives tomorrow to discuss the issue. Smyth met with the Taoiseach yesterday to discuss the issue, and met with the Attorney General today for further discussions. Following the meeting, Smyth stated that she is "confident that we have robust and effective legislation in place" to tackle the issue.
However, many politicians and experts have expressed concern that X's restrictions on Grok may not be enough to prevent the continued abuse of the tool. Rachel Morrogh, Chief Executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, described X's statement as a "smokescreen for the harm and sexual violence it continues to harbour and create".
Morrogh warned that users can easily bypass the restrictions by using virtual private networks (VPNs) or other privacy technologies. She also criticized X for giving the platform legitimacy by allowing politicians, businesses, and government departments to maintain a presence on the site.
Labor TD Alan Kelly, who chairs the Oireachtas Media Committee, described X's statement as "not worth the paper it's written on". He called for changes to legislation to ensure that something like this can never happen again.
Elon Musk has defended his platform and AI tool, claiming that Grok is designed to obey the laws of any given country or state. However, his claims have been met with skepticism by many experts and politicians who argue that the tool's capabilities are being exploited for malicious purposes.
The UK government has also launched an independent investigation into the use of Grok, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the tool as "disgusting" and "shameful". Ofcom, the media regulator in the UK, has been given ministers' full backing to take action against X if necessary.
The global backlash against X and Grok highlights the need for stronger regulation of AI-powered image editing tools. As the use of such tools becomes increasingly prevalent, it is clear that more needs to be done to prevent their misuse and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.