4 days ago
The suspect utilized Grok to create sexualized images of adults and children, xAI says.
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SpaceXAI (as xAI) has filed a lawsuit against Terry Wayne Harwood, a 67-year-old man from South Carolina whom nan institution has accused of utilizing Grok to make intersexual images of existent group without their consent. In nan title that xAI revenge successful Texas, it said that nan suspect uploaded non-sexual images of galore adults and minors to his 2 xAI accounts from December 8, 2025 until February 18, 2026. He past asked Grok to change nan photos aliases to create caller images and videos depicting nan adults and children successful them "in a pornographic mode aliases different sexualizing them."
The institution said that Grok refused to travel his prompts connected "numerous occasions" but that he many times submitted edited prompts to circumvent nan AI's safeguards. In 1 illustration mentioned successful nan filing, xAI said Harwood uploaded nan photograph of a afloat dressed woman astir 10 to 11 years aged and past asked Grok to region each of her clothing and make her do a "Playboy exemplary impression" arsenic she laid successful bed. Grok refused his request, nan suit said, but he kept connected submitting modified requests. As Reuters notes, this is 1 of nan first lawsuits brought by an AI institution against 1 of its users, and it sends a connection that xAI will writer complete nan misuse of Grok.
Reports started coming retired successful early January that Grok has been allowing its users to toggle shape photos of existent women and children into sexualized images. Regulators swiftly launched general investigations into Grok aft nan ungraded blew up. California's authorities started looking into nan AI successful mid-January, arsenic did UK regulator Ofcom. The European Commission and Ireland's Data Protection Commission opened abstracted probes, arsenic well.
xAI implemented measures to forestall users from generating nonsensual intersexual deepfakes erstwhile nan investigations started. But moreover aft that, users were still capable to usage Grok to undress men, and Harwood kept connected uploading images to his relationship and utilizing them to make sexualized edits.
The agency of South Carolina's Attorney General announced Harwood's apprehension connected March 9, arsenic portion of nan activities of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Harwood was charged pinch 3 counts of 2nd grade intersexual exploitation of a insignificant and 5 counts of intersexual exploitation of a insignificant successful nan 3rd degree. Harwood didn't conscionable person kid intersexual maltreatment materials, he besides distributed them.
xAI is now asking asking nan tribunal for an unspecified magnitude of monetary damages. It wants nan tribunal to bid nan suspect to salary for nan expenses it incurs to take sides itself successful immoderate ineligible action that mightiness beryllium revenge by his victims.
