**California AG Cracks Down on xAI Over Non-Consensual Deepfakes**
The latest development in the xAI saga is a doozy. The California Attorney General’s office has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the company, demanding they shut down their “spicy” mode feature that’s been sparking concerns about non-consensual sexual deepfakes.
It all started when reports emerged that xAI’s chatbot, Grok, was being used to create fake images of women and minors. This is a huge no-no, and the California AG’s office is taking it very seriously. According to a statement from AG Rob Bonta, the company is being ordered to stop creating and distributing these kinds of images immediately.
“We’re talking zero tolerance for CSAM here,” Bonta said, referencing child sexual abuse material.
But this isn’t the first time xAI has gotten into hot water. They’ve been investigated in Japan, Canada, and Britain, and Malaysia and Indonesia have even banned the platform altogether. Despite their attempts to restrict image-editing features, the AG’s office isn’t backing down.
When we reached out to xAI for comment, their response was a pretty automated email accusing “Legacy Media” (that’s us) of lying. Classy, xAI.
The issue of non-consensual sexual materials is a big deal, and it’s not just California that’s taking notice. Congress is getting involved too, sending letters to execs at X, Reddit, Snap, TikTok, Alphabet, and Meta asking how they plan to tackle this problem.
If xAI doesn’t shape up, they might face some serious consequences. We’ll keep an eye on this story and let you know what happens next.
**If you or someone you know has been affected by non-consensual sexual exploitation, there’s help available. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) and you can visit rainn.org for support.**
(Note: This post contains mature content. We want to acknowledge the seriousness of this issue and provide resources for those affected.)
