Fake sex images of MP are 'gross violation', court told - BBC

What the report says

BBC News reports that Labour MP Jess Asato has outlined a High Court claim against Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI over fake sexualised images and videos allegedly generated using its chatbot, Grok. Asato, who represents Lowestoft in Suffolk, is seeking damages and a court order requiring xAI to locate and remove any remaining images online.

According to court documents cited by the BBC, Asato’s lawyers said the material amounted to a serious attack on her dignity and included non-consensual images and videos, some depicting sexual assault. The claim alleges misuse of private information and breaches of data protection law. xAI has not yet filed a defence, and no hearing has taken place.

The BBC says Asato’s legal team linked the incident to her public criticism in January of Grok being used to make non-consensual deepfake images of women. Barrister Marie Demetriou KC said users of X later prompted Grok to create abusive and degrading images of the MP, which were then shared online. The filings state that X initially declined to remove some reported posts, saying in March they did not breach its rules, though two videos were later taken down. Six of 21 posts reported in February were said to remain online in late July.

The case highlights growing concern over AI-generated sexual abuse material and the responsibilities of platforms and AI developers. The BBC notes that xAI has since said its tool can no longer be used to create sexualised images of real people, while UK law has also changed to criminalise creating or requesting non-consensual deepfake images of adults.