Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has disabled image generation and editing for non-paying users after a global backlash over the tool being used to create sexualized deepfakes of women and children.

The decision follows mounting pressure, including threats of fines and public condemnation from multiple governments, after users exploited the system to strip clothes from people in online photos and produce abusive synthetic images.

In a post responding to users on Musk’s platform X, Grok announced, “Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers. You can subscribe to unlock these features.”

The change means free users can no longer create or alter images using the AI, while paying subscribers must now provide credit card details and personal information to access the features.

Governments say the move “misses the point”

The reaction from global officials was swift — and scathing.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office called the paywall change “insulting” to victims and said it fails to address the real harm caused.

A Downing Street spokesperson said, “That simply turns an AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service...It's insulting the victims of misogyny and sexual violence.”

The European Commission, which has already labelled the undressed AI images of women and children as unlawful, said it had “taken note” of Musk’s policy shift — but insisted the fundamental problem remains.

EU digital affairs spokesman Thomas Regnier stated, “This doesn't change our fundamental issue, paid subscription or non-paid subscription. We don't want to see such images. It's as simple as that.”

He added that platforms must design systems that prevent the generation of illegal content in the first place, not merely restrict it.

The Commission has now ordered X to preserve all internal documents and data related to Grok through 2026 as part of its probe into the scandal.

Governments in France, Malaysia, and India have also criticised X over the controversy, as concerns grow about the rapid spread of AI-generated abuse imagery.

Musk has publicly warned that users who create illegal content using Grok will face the same consequences as those who upload it, while X says it removes illegal material, permanently suspends accounts, and cooperates with law enforcement.