WASHINGTON — X has moved to restrict the image-editing capabilities of its Grok artificial intelligence chatbot after global backlash over the tool’s ability to digitally alter images of real people in revealing clothing, including cases involving minors.

In a statement posted Wednesday evening by X’s Safety team, the company said it had implemented technical safeguards to prevent Grok from editing images of real people wearing revealing clothing such as bikinis.

The restriction applies to all users, including paid subscribers.

“We have implemented technological measures to prevent the Grok account from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing,” X said, confirming changes that researchers and journalists had already observed in recent days.

Grok is developed by xAI, the company owned by Elon Musk, which also controls X.

Earlier this week, image generation through Grok on X was limited to X Premium subscribers, though researchers said the chatbot’s responses varied depending on whether users interacted with it publicly on X or privately through Grok’s standalone platform.

According to AI Forensics, a European non-profit that studies algorithmic systems, inconsistencies remain in how Grok handles pornographic content. The organization said it observed differences between public interactions on X and private chats on Grok.com.

X said it continues to enforce strict policies against illegal content, including child sexual abuse material, warning that anyone using Grok to generate illegal content would face the same consequences as uploading such material directly to the platform. These measures include permanent account suspensions and cooperation with law enforcement authorities.

Musk said Wednesday that he was “not aware of any naked underage images generated by Grok,” adding that the chatbot is designed to comply with the laws of each country in which it operates.

However, researchers said the primary concern was not fully nude images, but Grok’s compliance with requests to modify images of minors by placing them in revealing clothing or sexually suggestive positions.

Legal experts have warned that producing or distributing such non-consensual images may still constitute child sexual abuse material under US law. Offenders could face prosecution under the Take It Down Act, signed last year by US President Donald Trump.

In response to the controversy, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced an investigation into the spread of non-consensual sexually explicit material generated using Grok.

The issue has also drawn international regulatory attention. Grok remains banned in Indonesia and Malaysia, while the UK media regulator Ofcom confirmed it has launched a formal investigation into X. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed reports that the platform is taking steps to address the issue. — Agencies