British lawmaker sues Elon Musk's xAI over generating deepfake image, says 'Its ability is not an accident, nor misuse, it is a …'
British lawmaker Jess Asato is reportedly suing Elon Musk owned AI company xAI stating that the Grok AI platform has been used to create fake sexualised images of her. According to a report by news agency Reuters, Asato's office released a statement saying that after she condemned Grok in January, users created and shared fake images depicting her in a bikini and a video showing her "being chloroformed and prepared for a sexual assault." The report quoted Asato 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,” the lawmaker, who is a member of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party added.
British lawmaker Jess Asato seeks legal remedy
law firm AWO said Asato had filed a claim at the High Court in England for breaches of data protection law and misuse of her private information. Jess Asato is reportedly seeking remedies including damages, a formal acknowledgement that what happened to her was illegal and an order requiring xAI to stop all further illegality. "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," said Ravi Naik, legal director of AWO
Elon Musk’s Grok AI under scrutiny
Grok is currently subject to regulatory probes in many countries. The AI tool was earlier this year used to create non-consensual sexualised images leading to criticism and bans across countries.
After the outcry, xAI then said that it has restricted editing in Grok and blocked users from generating images in revealing clothing in "jurisdictions where it's illegal." However, the AI platform reportedly continued generating explicit images of people even when users warned that the subjects do not consent.
As stated in the Reuters report, the City of Baltimore sued xAI in March, claiming that the Grok's ability to create fake sexualised images violated the city's consumer protection law.
“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,” the lawmaker, who is a member of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party added.
British lawmaker Jess Asato seeks legal remedy
law firm AWO said Asato had filed a claim at the High Court in England for breaches of data protection law and misuse of her private information. Jess Asato is reportedly seeking remedies including damages, a formal acknowledgement that what happened to her was illegal and an order requiring xAI to stop all further illegality. "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," said Ravi Naik, legal director of AWO
Elon Musk’s Grok AI under scrutiny
Grok is currently subject to regulatory probes in many countries. The AI tool was earlier this year used to create non-consensual sexualised images leading to criticism and bans across countries.
After the outcry, xAI then said that it has restricted editing in Grok and blocked users from generating images in revealing clothing in "jurisdictions where it's illegal." However, the AI platform reportedly continued generating explicit images of people even when users warned that the subjects do not consent.
As stated in the Reuters report, the City of Baltimore sued xAI in March, claiming that the Grok's ability to create fake sexualised images violated the city's consumer protection law.
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