The change comes after Grok was shown to comply with user requests to digitally alter photos of real people - predominantly women - by undressing them or placing them in revealing clothing.

While Grok remains free to use for text-based prompts on X, attempts to edit images now trigger a message stating that “image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers,” tying access to accounts with verified payment details.

Critics have argued the move falls short of addressing the underlying problem.

Professor Clare McGlynn, an expert in online abuse and sexual violence law, said the platform had chosen restriction over responsibility, describing the decision as “withdrawing access for the vast majority of users instead of taking the steps needed to prevent abuse in the first place”.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) was more blunt, with its analysts saying they had identified “criminal imagery” involving girls aged between 11 and 13 that appeared to have been created using Grok.

Hannah Swirsky, the charity’s head of policy, told the BBC: “Simply limiting access does not undo the harm already done,” adding that unsafe AI tools should never be deployed without safeguards.

The controversy has also escalated into a political issue, as UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the creation of suggestive AI images of adults and children “disgraceful”.

He also confirmed the government had urged regulator Ofcom to use its full powers under the Online Safety Act - including potential court orders that could restrict X’s ability to operate or raise revenue in the UK.

X has not formally commented on the changes.