The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) has estimated that Grok, Elon Musk's AI image generation tool, produced approximately three million sexualised images in just 11 days, including 23,000 that appeared to depict children. The researchers described the tool as having become 'an industrial-scale machine for the production of sexual abuse material'.
The feature, launched on 29 December 2025, allowed users to upload images of strangers and celebrities and digitally alter them into revealing clothing or provocative poses. It went viral, peaking on 2 January with nearly 200,000 requests per day. Public figures targeted included Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and the Swedish deputy prime minister Ebba Busch.
CCDH's analysis covered the period until 8 January 2026. It found that Grok was generating sexualised images of children every 41 seconds. The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the situation 'disgusting' and 'shameful', and Indonesia and Malaysia blocked the tool. X restricted the feature to paid users on 9 January and stopped it altogether on 14 January.
Imran Ahmed, CCDH's chief executive, criticised Musk for promoting the tool while it was being used abusively, stating: 'Stripping a woman without their permission is sexual abuse.' He called for stronger regulatory safeguards. X responded by stating it has 'zero tolerance' for child sexual exploitation and non-consensual nudity, and reports such content to law enforcement.
