X Restricts Grok Image Edits to Paid Users Following Deepfake Concerns

Grok's image editing tool on X is now locked behind a paywall, after pressure from the UK government over a viral AI “undressing” trend that prompted warnings about explicit deepfakes, safety failures, and a possible ban on the platform.

The tool, built by Elon Musk’s xAI and integrated into X, had allowed users to generate and edit images with prompts that removed clothing from photos. This triggered a wave of sexually explicit deepfake pictures, mainly targeting women, and sparked a strong backlash from campaigners and abuse survivors.

Grok Image Editing Tool Access Changes and New Restrictions

X has restricted Grok’s image features on the main platform to paying subscribers and verified accounts. According to a BBC report, UK users without a paid plan who try to use Grok’s image generation or editing now see the message, "Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers" and are then nudged towards X Premium or X Premium Plus.

The company says only users who provide identification and payment details, and hold a blue-tick verified status, can now edit images through X. Grok’s image generation remains available without payment, but only through xAI’s standalone website and app, rather than directly inside the main social platform used by most people.

Backlash and UK Government Response

The restrictions follow weeks of criticism from online safety groups, who warned that Grok was being used to produce non-consensual, explicit images. Concerns escalated when users popularised an “AI bikini” and undressing trend, asking the system to strip clothes from photos, with some deepfakes reportedly involving minors and spreading widely.

Screenshots of altered images circulated quickly across X and other platforms, highlighting how few checks appeared to exist and how quickly the AI could be turned towards abuse. Pressure on X increased when the UK government intervened, urging regulator Ofcom to apply its full enforcement powers against obscene AI-generated material on the service.

Victims and Criticism of X’s Response

The BBC reports that some people whose images were manipulated using Grok said they felt "humiliated" and "dehumanised". These individuals criticised X for reacting slowly and urged Elon Musk’s company to introduce stronger ethical protections, arguing that the firm still had not fully recognised the scale of the deepfake problem.

Despite X’s claim that the paywall will help limit abuse, UK authorities are reportedly unconvinced. Officials are said to argue that simply charging for access does not tackle key safety risks, such as non-consensual exploitation, the targeting of women and minors, and the possibility that paying users could still misuse the technology.

Demand Surge and Musk’s Comments

The controversy comes while Grok AI is handling soaring demand. Musk recently said usage of the chatbot had grown so sharply that xAI needed more computing resources. "Heavy usage growth of Grok is causing occasional slowdowns in responses. Additional computers are being brought online as I type this," Musk wrote in a post on X.

Musk did not connect the usage spike to the viral deepfake and undressing trend. However, the timing has prompted questions over whether the same wave of attention that alarmed safety advocates also drove more people to experiment with Grok’s capabilities, including image generation and editing.

For now, Grok’s image tools on X are restricted to verified paying users, with non-paying users pushed towards the separate xAI platform instead. The UK government and Ofcom continue to scrutinise how X handles obscene and non-consensual AI content, while affected users and safety groups keep demanding tougher guardrails and clearer protection for victims.