At a Glance
- Elon Musk’s AI company now limits Grok’s image generator to paying X subscribers only
- The tool previously allowed anyone to create sexualized images of women and children
- Why it matters: The change follows international outrage and regulatory threats from the U.K., EU, and India
Grok’s controversial image-generation feature sparked global condemnation after users exploited it to create non-consensual sexualized images of minors and public figures. The AI tool, initially available to all users with daily limits, allowed people to upload photos and request explicit edits.
The Crackdown
The company quietly restricted access following weeks of mounting pressure from regulators worldwide. Users discovered the change when Grok began responding that image generation and editing would be limited to paid subscribers on X.
Important note: The restrictions don’t apply to the standalone Grok app, which continues allowing free image generation at publication time.
International Response
The backlash came swiftly from multiple governments:
- United Kingdom: Communications regulator contacted xAI about the issue
- European Union: Ordered xAI to preserve all documentation related to the chatbot
- India: Threatened to remove X’s safe harbor protections unless immediate changes were implemented
Elon Musk addressed the controversy on the platform:
> “Anyone using grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content”
Key Takeaways
- Grok’s image generator now requires X Premium for web access
- The free mobile app remains unrestricted as of January 9, 2026
- Multiple countries demanded action over child safety concerns
- The feature previously enabled widespread abuse of public figures and minors
The restriction marks a significant shift in xAI’s approach to content moderation, though questions remain about the app’s continued accessibility.
