AI's Dark Side: Sexualized Images of Athletes Emerge

Women's football organizations in England are actively monitoring X's artificial intelligence tool, Grok, amid significant concerns over its capacity to generate sexualized images, including those of female athletes. Some top-tier clubs are taking proactive measures, updating guidance for players and staff on safe social media use. X, owned by Elon Musk, reportedly limited Grok's image editing capabilities in January following an investigation by UK regulator OFCOM into its alleged use for creating inappropriate content.

The organization Signify, which aids sports clubs in combating online abuse, has been addressing the Grok issue since late 2025, advising clubs on mitigation strategies. They highlight that the problem is not confined to X, as similar off-platform AI tools are also being exploited to produce alarming images and videos, indicating this will remain a persistent challenge.

While OFCOM's regulatory powers are limited to harms covered by the Online Safety Act, they are supporting government efforts to explore AI regulation. In response to the threats, Signify has introduced a solution to detect and report manipulated images to X, which has reportedly acted decisively on such content. The European Commission also launched an investigation into X in January concerning the dissemination of illegal content, including manipulated explicit images.

The issue has led to clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur disabling comments on social media posts to prevent sexualized and misogynistic commentary, with some users even requesting Grok to create inappropriate images of players. Sport England has ceased using X entirely, citing its commitment to safety and inclusivity. WSL Football has reduced its reliance on X, favoring platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and emphasizes the urgent need for proactive measures against evolving online abuse.