COMMENT | With the recent incidents by X’s AI tool, Grok, in relation to the trend of its users creating explicit non-consensual sexual content of women and children, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) finds MCMC’s move to temporarily block access to the chatbot as timely.

Following mass reporting by victims, this serves to protect human rights, and in particular, individuals and communities at risk from disproportionate harm, as they see their images and identities violated.

As we see a clear international legal trend condemning Grok, with Indonesia following suit on banning it and the British media regulator, Ofcom, launching an investigation into X - to name only a few of the first responders - Grok’s quick turnaround to limit sexually explicit AI image generation is long overdue.

Though international pressure has caused X and xAI to take swift action on Grok, it is evident that rather than being reactive and acting under pressure, these measures should have already been prioritised and implemented by X to ensure a safe online environment as AI quickly emerges to the forefront.

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