Mihlali orders Grok AI to stop editing her photos
South African social media personality Mihlali Ndamase has publicly instructed Grok, the AI chatbot embedded in Elon Musk‑owned platform X, not to edit or modify any of her photographs in response to user prompts reflecting a rising wave of concern over AI‑driven image manipulation.
In a post shared on X, Mihlali made it clear she does not authorize the AI to alter her images, past or future, and that any third‑party suggestion for edits should be ignored.
While direct quotes from her statement have circulated primarily via social media reposts, the message echoes similar requests from public figures around the world asking Grok not to manipulate their likenesses without consent.
The move highlights growing frustration with Grok’s newly rolled‑out image editing features, which allow users to apply AI‑generated alterations to publicly posted images without notifying the original uploader or requiring their permission.
This capability has sparked a global backlash, as users reportedly prompt Grok to produce sexualized and non‑consensual edits including placing people in bikinis or suggestive scenarios raising serious ethical and legal questions about consent and digital dignity.
Governments and advocacy groups in multiple countries have called for stronger safeguards, and regulators in places such as India and France are reviewing the feature under existing online safety laws.
Experts note that while individuals can publicly declare they don’t want AI edits of their images, the technical ability for third parties to continue prompting such changes remains, underscoring broader unresolved issues around AI governance and personal data rights.
