Sheffield MP calls for 'fundamentally different approach to regulation' after AI undressing scandal on X
A Sheffield MP is celebrating after government pressure forced a change in one of the biggest AI’s operations - though she warns that more needs to be done.
Following widespread backlash over recent weeks, including threats form the UK government, the social media site X - formerly Twitter - has changed its policy to stop AI from creating sexualised images of real people.
Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok had previously been accused of generating images of women and children without their consent, as users asked the programme to digitally remove clothes from uploaded pictures.
UK media regulator Ofcom investigated the company, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government would ‘take the necessary measures’ to ensure people were protected.
Amidst the scandal, Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh called on government services to stop using the social media site, and logged out of her own account.
Now, she has celebrated X’s change in policy, but warns that it highlights how regulations need to change in a world where unprecedented dangers are being created by artificial intelligence.
The Labour MP said: “It’s right that X have now made changes to their AI tool to stop the undressing of real people, its unconscionable that this was allowed in the first place. However, we know that there are ways around this, through tools that are readily available to all on the internet.
“It’s imperative that Ofcom continue their investigation and that we take a fundamentally different approach to regulation. ..it’s right that we have a very strong regulatory system around this to protect people and in particular children from harm.”