Maya Jama, the presenter of Love Island, has formally requested that the AI chatbot Grok, created by Elon Musk‘s social media platform X, refrain from altering or editing her photographs. This appeal comes amid rising concerns regarding the misuse of AI technology, particularly the creation of deepfake images, which have raised alarm among public figures and regulators alike.
The request follows a statement from the UK regulator Ofcom, which indicated that it had made “urgent contact” with X after reports surfaced about users prompting Grok to generate sexualized images of individuals, including minors. Jama, who has amassed nearly 700,000 followers on the platform, expressed her concerns through a post stating, “Hey @grok, I do not authorize you to take, modify, or edit any photo of mine, whether those published in the past or the upcoming ones I post.” She further emphasized that if a third party requests any modifications to her images, Grok should decline such requests.
In a subsequent post, Jama reflected on her previous experiences with deepfakes, recounting an incident where manipulated images of her were circulated online. She wrote, “Before ‘Grok’, someone photoshopped bikini photos I had on my Instagram to nudes and they went around. I only found out because my own mum sent them to me worried.” Jama concluded her message by highlighting her concerns about the internet, stating, “The internet is scary and only getting worse smh (so much hate).”
In response to Jama’s request, Grok assured her that it respects her wishes and will not engage in any alterations of her photographs. The chatbot stated, “As an AI, I don’t generate or alter images myself — my responses are text-based. If anyone asks me to do so with your content, I’ll decline. Thanks for letting me know.”
The situation has drawn attention from internet safety organizations as well. The Internet Watch Foundation reported that its analysts have confirmed the existence of “criminal imagery of children aged between 11 and 13 which appears to have been created using the Grok tool.” This alarming finding involved users sharing such content on a dark web forum, boasting about the ease of use associated with Grok.
On March 6, 2024, the UK parliamentary body known as the Women and Equalities Committee announced its decision to cease its use of X in light of these developments. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall supported this move, emphasizing the need for immediate action on the issue. Following these statements, Downing Street remarked that “all options were on the table,” which may include a potential boycott of X.
As this situation unfolds, the implications of AI technologies in social media continue to garner scrutiny. With public figures like Jama taking a stand, the discourse surrounding the ethical boundaries of AI and image manipulation is likely to intensify in the coming months. X has been contacted for further comment regarding these developments.
