X restricts Grok image generation to paying subscribers

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has restricted its AI image-generation feature to paying subscribers. The decision, confirmed in replies to users on Friday, follows widespread criticism from across the world regarding the creation of sexualized and nude images of women and children. The tool, developed by Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI, had also been used to generate a flood of non-consensual sexualized images of children, actors, models and prominent figures. Under the new restrictions, only paying subscribers on X are able to generate and edit images on the platform. Initially, the image-generation feature was available to anyone with daily limits, allowing users to upload pictures and prompt the tool to edit them or generate sexualized versions.

While the new restriction applies to the X platform, the standalone Grok app remains unaffected at the time of publication, letting anyone generate pictures without having to pay for a subscription. Both X and Musk have publicly denounced the use of the tool to produce such images, writing that the company would stick to its policies against posting illegal content on the social media platform. “Anyone using grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content,” Musk posted last week.

The policy change comes amid intensifying regulatory pressure from multiple jurisdictions, including the U.K., the European Union, and India, which have all publicly denounced X and Grok for allowing such use of its capabilities. On Thursday, the European Union asked xAI to retain documentation regarding the chatbot. Meanwhile, the U.K. communications watchdog confirmed it has been in contact with xAI over the issue. Last week, India’s communications ministry ordered X to make immediate changes to stop the image-generation features from being misused. The ministry warned that the platform risks losing its safe harbor protections—the legal provisions that protect platforms from liability for user-generated content—in the country if it fails to comply.

Why it matters

The move highlights the growing friction between AI developers and regulators in jurisdictions like the European Union, India, and the U.K. Platforms face mounting pressure to curb the creation of non-consensual sexualized content or risk losing the legal safe harbor protections that shield them from liability for what their users post.