• Elon Musk’s Grok AI tool limits image editing capabilities to paid subscribers amid backlash over deepfakes.
• Global government scrutiny has intensified over the generation of non-consensual sexualized images.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls the response "insulting" to victims of misogyny and violence.
• The European Commission demands stricter AI safeguards from Musk's platform.
• Critics argue that limiting access to paid users does not effectively stop the abuse.

Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok has restricted its image generation feature to paying subscribers on the social media platform X, in response to significant backlash over its tools being used to create sexualized deepfakes of individuals, including minors. Users had exploited Grok to generate non-consensual images, prompting outcry from various governments and the public, which led to this pivotal change on January 9. According to BBC, India Times, and Reuters.

The UK government has responded sternly, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeling the tool's previous functionalities as “disgraceful” and advocating for “all options to be on the table,” including a potential ban of the platform in the UK. Starmer criticized the halt of access only for non-paying users as "insulting" to victims of misogyny and sexual violence, stating that it merely transformed a readily available tool into a for-profit service. This perspective is echoed by Le Monde and Al Jazeera.

Internationally, reactions have been similarly harsh, with the European Commission labeling the situation concerning Grok's capabilities as unlawful and demanding that X transparently retain all related internal documents until the end of 2026. Furthermore, criticism is not limited to Western nations; countries including Malaysia, France, and India have communicated their disapproval of Grok’s handling of deepfake issues. As noted by CBS News and Los Angeles Times, there is an underlying push for more robust safeguards to prevent such abuses of AI technology.

Despite the subscription-based restrictions, critics argue this measure does not effectively eliminate the risk of abuse. Emma Pickering from a technology-facilitated abuse group stated, “It has simply been placed behind a paywall, allowing X to profit from harm.” This highlights the ongoing debate regarding the ethical responsibilities of technology companies in monitoring and managing the tools they provide, as discussed by various media sources, including India Times, Le Monde, and Al Jazeera.