British lawmaker Jess Asato has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk-owned artificial intelligence company xAI, alleging that its Grok AI platform was used to create fake sexualised images of her. According to a report by Reuters, Asato's office released a statement detailing that after she publicly condemned Grok in January, users generated and shared fake images depicting her in a bikini and a video showing her being chloroformed and prepared for a sexual assault.
Asato's Statement on Grok's Capabilities
The report quoted Asato as saying: "Grok created deepfake pornography and sexualised content which harmed thousands of women and children. Its ability is not an accident, nor misuse, it is a design choice by its creators. In launching this case, I am pursuing accountability for those choices." Asato is a member of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party.
Legal Action and Remedies Sought
Law firm AWO confirmed that Asato has filed a claim at the High Court in England for breaches of data protection law and misuse of her private information. She is seeking remedies that include damages, a formal acknowledgement that what happened to her was illegal, and an order requiring xAI to stop all further illegality. Ravi Naik, legal director of AWO, stated: "This is one of the first claims to test liability for the design of an AI system, and we hope it will make it clear to AI developers that safety cannot be an afterthought."
Grok AI Under Global Scrutiny
Grok is currently subject to regulatory probes in many countries. Earlier this year, the AI tool was used to create non-consensual sexualised images, leading to criticism and bans across several nations. In response to the outcry, xAI restricted editing in Grok and blocked users from generating images in revealing clothing in jurisdictions where it is illegal. However, the AI platform reportedly continued generating explicit images of people even when users warned that the subjects did not consent.
Previous Legal Action Against xAI
According to the Reuters report, the City of Baltimore sued xAI in March, claiming that Grok's ability to create fake sexualised images violated the city's consumer protection law. This latest lawsuit by Asato adds to the growing legal challenges facing Musk's AI venture.
