EU Lawmakers Call to Confirm Ban on AI Nudifying Apps Over Consent Concerns

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A cross-party group of 57 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) has urged the European Commission to confirm that AI applications used to undress people without their consent are banned in the EU under the AI Act for violating people’s “fundamental rights.”

The MEPs’ note to the European Commission follows recent outcry over Grok being used to generate sexualized deepfake images of real people, particularly women and children. Elon Musk, the owner of Grok, however, shared a post on X criticizing the focus on the xAI tool as many other apps have been misused for similar purposes.

X has since stated that it no longer allows users to edit images of real people in revealing clothes. However, users across Europe are still reportedly able to generate deepfake images of real people in bikinis as of January 15.

Dutch GroenLinks MEP Kim van Sparrentak said: 

These AI-powered tools facilitate widespread sexual violence against women and children. Police investigation of perpetrators after the damage is done is not enough to prevent crimes against women and children at this scale. These apps must be banned from the European market immediately.

The note has been signed by MEPs from across the political spectrum, including the European People’s Party, the Socialists and Democrats, the Greens, Renew, and The Left.