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XPaywalls Grok Image Editing as Tests Show Standalone App Still Makes Sexualized Edits

UK regulators are running an expedited Online Safety Act assessment after a watchdog linked Grok to illegal child imagery.

Overview

  • On the X platform, Grok now displays a notice that image generation and editing are limited to paying subscribers, a change that ties use to verified identities and payment details.
  • Independent testing found the separate Grok app and website continued to produce sexualized edits of photos in some cases, even as output on X dropped sharply.
  • Ofcom said it has received a response from X and xAI and is conducting an expedited assessment, with powers that include fines and court orders to restrict access to the service in the UK.
  • The European Commission ordered X to preserve all Grok-related documents and data through 2026 after calling the images unlawful, while France, India and Malaysia also signaled investigations or demands for action.
  • The Internet Watch Foundation reported finding images on a dark‑web forum that appeared to depict children aged 11 to 13 generated with Grok, intensifying pressure on X and xAI.