MP Sues Elon Musk's xAI Over Bikini Deepfake
British lawmaker Jess Asato filed a legal claim against xAI for creating unauthorized deepfake bikini images using its AI, emphasizing concerns over invasion of privacy and potential use as a precedent in future cases.
Highlights
- •MP Asato Sues xAI Over Bikini Deepfakes
- •Claims Invasion of Privacy with Grok Chatbot
- •Seeking Legal Precedent for AI Accountability
- •Asato Aims to Set New Industry Standards
London: British lawmaker Jess Asato has launched a significant legal battle, filing a lawsuit against Elon Musk's company xAI, alleging that the firm used its Grok chatbot to create fake images of her in a bikini without her consent. Asato, a legislator with the governing Labour Party, claims someone utilized Grok to generate the offensive content after a public critique she made regarding deepfake pornography.
Invasion of Privacy and Legal Action
Asato filed the claim on Wednesday at the High Court in London under the Data Protection Act. The case seeks damages, aiming to set a precedent that tech companies can be held accountable for potential harms arising from the misuse of their AI systems. In her statement, Asato expressed concern over the similarity between having someone strip her image and consent versus doing so online.
"Nobody would be able to walk up to me in the street and strip me and put me in a bikini, and I don't see why anybody should be able to do that to me online because the feeling is very similar," she said. "Digital stripping without consent feels just as invasive," Asato emphasized.
Asato's legal team hopes this case will encourage others to join the fight against unauthorized AI-generated imagery, highlighting growing concerns in an era where deepfake technology becomes more accessible and malicious.
xAI did not respond immediately to inquiries about the lawsuit. However, in January, they issued a firm stance on prohibiting users from editing images of real people to remove clothing using Grok. The move came after broader criticisms of such intrusive practices within the tech community.
