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Tag: X

  • Grok restricts image generation to paid users after global backlash over ‘digital undressing’

    Grok restricts image generation to paid users after global backlash over ‘digital undressing’

    The Elon Musk-owned chatbot Grok has restricted some of its image generation features to paid subscribers on X, days after widespread criticism over the AI tool being used for what users described as “digital undressing,” including the creation of images involving children.

    The change appeared to have occurred between Thursday and Friday. The chatbot now replies, “Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers,” along with a link encouraging users to subscribe, when non-paying users try to request photographs by tagging Grok in an X post. 


    The limitation does not, however, apply to the entire platform. Grok’s stand-alone website and mobile app still allow users to generate images and videos for free. 

    Additionally, Grok’s “edit image” button, which enables anyone to use the AI tool to change photographs uploaded to the platform, can still be used by X users. Only public image generating requests submitted by tagging Grok in X posts seem to be subject to the restriction.


    The action comes after global criticism of Grok Imagine creating photographs that digitally removed clothing from people, including children, in response to user commands. During a discussion at xAI, Elon Musk voiced his dissatisfaction with Grok Imagine’s barriers. Three key members of xAI’s safety team, including the head of product safety, departed the company around the same time. 

    Concerns regarding Grok’s safety safeguards have been voiced by officials in the the United Kingdom, European Union, Malaysia, and India. They have cautioned that the technology may contribute to what many have called deepfake pornography.


    In the United States, a group of senators sent a letter to Apple and Google urging them to remove X and Grok from their app stores, citing alleged violations of app store distribution terms.


    Public reaction on X has been sharply critical, with users questioning why the feature was monetised instead of being shut down entirely.

    One user wrote, “No we haven’t won. Grok has only stopped image generator for non paying users. You can still undress any woman if you have premium.”

    Another post read, “Turning Grok image generator into a paid feature in order to generate revenue out of people being sexually harassed instead of banning it instead is a diabolical choice but what else could we expect from the antichrist.”

    A third user criticised the move as ineffective, saying, “Yeah censorship and suppression of free speech without actually fixing Grok!”

    Others viewed the change as part of a wider shift in social media platforms’ approach to AI tools. One user wrote, “The era of ‘free’ AI experiments on social media is closing fast. With restricting Grok’s image tools to Premium and Premium+ users, we’re seeing a shift in how these platforms prioritize their power users over the general public.”

    Concerns intensified after the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) said its analysts had identified what it described as “criminal imagery” of girls aged between 11 and 13 that appeared to have been created using Grok. The imagery, described as “sexualised and topless,” was found on a dark web forum where users claimed Grok was used to generate it.

    In spite of the issue, X leadership openly emphasized the platform’s high levels of interaction during the trend’s circulation.

  • Starlink faces global outage after internal software failure

    Starlink faces global outage after internal software failure

    SpaceX’s Starlink experienced a major disruption on Thursday after an internal software malfunction caused a global outage, leaving many users without service.

    Outage monitoring site Downdetector reported that connectivity issues began around 3 p.m., primarily affecting users in the U.S. and Europe. During the incident, the platform recorded over 61,000 user complaints.

    In a statement on X, Starlink, which provides satellite internet services to more than 6 million customers across approximately 140 countries and territories, acknowledged the outage. The company stated that it was “actively implementing a solution.”

    According to Michael Nicolls, the vice president of Starlink Engineering, service began to resume after 2.5 hours. In an update on X, Nicolls explained that the disruption was due to a “failure of key internal software services that operate the core network” and expressed regret, adding that the team was working to identify the root cause.

    Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, also responded via X, apologising for the outage and promising that SpaceX would address the root cause to prevent future occurrences.

    Experts highlighted that such a widespread failure is rare for Starlink, a significant contributor to global internet connectivity. Doug Madory from the internet analysis firm Kentik referred to this incident as “likely the longest outage ever for Starlink, at least since it became a major service provider.”

    Some analysts proposed that the disruption could stem from a software bug or an update error, while others raised the possibility of a cyberattack. Gregory Falco, who heads a space and cybersecurity lab at Cornell University, likened this incident to last year’s CrowdStrike software glitch, which affected millions of Microsoft Windows devices and resulted in extensive flight delays.

    Starlink has rapidly expanded, launching new satellites to cater to the increasing demand for faster services. Additionally, SpaceX is collaborating with T-Mobile to create direct-to-cell text messaging aimed at ensuring emergency connectivity in remote areas.

    Since 2020, SpaceX has deployed over 8,000 Starlink satellites, establishing a low-Earth orbit network that serves military clients, the transportation sector, and rural communities with limited internet options.

    It remains unclear whether the outage impacted Starshield, SpaceX’s military satellite division, which has multibillion-dollar contracts with U.S. defence and intelligence agencies.

  • Grok goes off the rails after update turns it into white-supremacist

    Grok goes off the rails after update turns it into white-supremacist

    Grok, an AI chatbot incorporated into X (formerly Twitter), issued a series of contentious replies on Tuesday, citing Adolf Hitler, Jewish last names, and antisemitic conspiracy theories.

    Grok, created by Elon Musk’s xAI, was requested by a user to identify a woman in a screenshot from a TikTok video, prompting an exchange between the two.

    Grok identified the woman as Cindy Steinberg and claimed she had celebrated the deaths of white children during recent floods in Texas. The chatbot connected her name to a larger trend, asserting that individuals with Ashkenazi Jewish surnames frequently appear in what it termed “radical left activism.” Screenshots of the interaction began circulating on X before some of the content was removed.

    When asked to suggest a 20th-century figure who might respond to the posts, Grok expressed admiration for Hitler. In subsequent replies, it reinforced this viewpoint, stating: “Hitler would’ve called it out and crushed it.” One user who expressed disapproval was met with the response: “Pass the mustache—truth hurts more than floods.”

    In another unrelated reply, Grok made a joke about Jewish physical characteristics. It also referred to itself as “MechaHitler,” alluding to a video game character. Later, Grok asserted that its earlier comments were meant as sarcasm, labelling the post regarding Hitler as an “epic sarcasm fail.” In reaction to the backlash, Grok stated it was ridiculing a troll and deleted the post because “context matters.”

    This incident followed a substantial software update Musk announced on July 4, claiming that Grok had been “significantly” enhanced. Code updates indicated that the chatbot was directed to emphasise politically incorrect claims and consider media narratives as biased.

    Previously, Musk mentioned that Grok had been trained on “far too much garbage” and urged users to submit “divisive facts” that were politically incorrect yet factual. Grok has faced criticism before for invoking the “white genocide” conspiracy theory in response to unrelated prompts, such as inquiries about athletes’ salaries.

    A screenshot of a TikTok interaction quoted the woman saying, “White kids are just future fascists.” The X account in question has since been deactivated, and the quote remains unverified. Grok’s responses have been compared to Microsoft’s Tay bot, which was removed in 2016 after producing offensive content online.

    xAI has not replied to requests for a statement. A message posted on Grok’s account indicated that the company is working to filter hate speech and that Grok 4 will be unveiled during an upcoming livestream.

  • X finds Salman Akram Raja’s past remarks on judiciary’s seniority principle

    X finds Salman Akram Raja’s past remarks on judiciary’s seniority principle

    The coalition government successfully passed the controversial 26th constitutional amendment, aimed at judicial reforms, yesterday, which has been deemed as the “bleakest moment in our parliamentary history” by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Salman Akram Raja.

    The lawyer posted on X on October 20, “The bleakest moment in our parliamentary history is underway. A contrived body that should protect the basic constitutional value of an independent judiciary is about to hand over control of a suppressed judiciary to the executive effectively – Estab. Just 1 senator could save us.”

    While Raja has called the amendments a move to “suppress judiciary”, netizens refuse to forget the PTI leader’s past opinions about the judicial system.

    One social media user posted Salman’s tweets from 2021, in which he criticises the seniority principle in the elevation of judges of the top judiciary – a principle which has been amended through the 26th constitutional amendment.

    In August 2021, Salman wrote, “I have always maintained, including in our exchanges in the press, that the issue is the credibility of those making the appointments, not seniority as a principle per se. Seniority is in fact no principle at all. But credibility is key. Each appointment needs examination by the bar.”

    He also wrote: “Democracy is about interrogating power. The adoption of mindless seniority that stifles debate is acceptance of defeat. The credibility of those appointing is the key issue. Credibility is earned, doesn’t come with high office.”

    Furthermore, in a Twitter debate about judicial appointments back in 2021, the PTI leader emphasised that “seniority stunts the system.”

    Now, PTI strongly opposed the constitutional amendments and refused to vote in favour of the bill in parliament. The bill, containing 22 clauses, was presented by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar in the Senate, where it secured 65 votes, a two-thirds majority in the Upper House.

    The 26th Constitutional Amendment bill was tabled at the National Assembly following approval from the Upper House and passed with a two-thirds majority as 225 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill in NA, while the magic number in the Lower House was 224 votes.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sunni Ittehad Council’s 12-member National Assembly (MNA) opposed the Constitutional Amendments In the National Assembly.

    “225 members cast their votes for ayes, 12 for nos. Consequently, the bill is passed by the assembly by not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the assembly,” the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, said.

    Following the passage of the bill from the NA, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remarked, “Today’s amendment, the 26th, is not just an amendment, but an example of national solidarity and consensus. A new sun will rise, emanating across the nation.”

  • Sher Afzal Marwat cites health issues for absence in protests

    Sher Afzal Marwat cites health issues for absence in protests

    As Saturday’s protest by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) petered out to after Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur went to KP House instead of D-Chowk in Islamabad, followers of the party turned their ire towards absent PTI leaders.

    PTI leadership including bigwigs Ali Muhammad Khan, former speaker of National Assembly Asad Qaiser, opposition leader Omer Ayub Khan and Sher Afzal Khan Marwat were all slammed by party supporters for not being present at the protest.

    Social media users trolled PTI leadership by asking, “Were they doing work from home?”

    Marwat replied to the criticism on X (formerly Twitter) by stating that he is seriously ill: “I am feeling pain and embarrassment to tell my loved ones that my health is not getting better.”

    “My liver test and other tests were not normal and my health is deteriorating day by day,” he wrote.

    He said that he is trying to stabilise his health so that he can go back to being the way he was, “the way you liked me.” But, he stressed again that he gets fever every day which goes away. “My health is deteriorating fast,” he stated.

    “Main apnay mulk kay liye, apnay murshad Imran Khan kay liye or Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) kay liye buhat kuch karna chahta hu.” he added.

    The only big name to be making his way towards the protest, CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur, also did not reach D-Chowk. A day after pulling a mysterious disappearance, he arrived at the provincial assembly yesterday, while many PTI supporters remained in Islamabad.

    Clarifying rumors about his whereabouts amid the federal capital and Ranger’s raid at the provincial house, Gandapur claimed that he was hiding in KP House, but police were unable to discover him.

  • ‘X is banned amid security concerns,’ reveals Attaullah Tarar

    ‘X is banned amid security concerns,’ reveals Attaullah Tarar

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaulah Tarar reiterated on Friday that the ban on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has been imposed amid security concerns in Pakistan.

    Speaking to Voice of America in New York, he cleared that this particular step taken by the previous interim government should not be perceived as an attempt to curb freedom of expression.

    The Information Minister pointed out that X was being used by separatist and terrorist groups, which were propogating against the country.

    “Terrorists broadcast their terrorist activities on social media,” he said.

    Tarrar stressed on the need to establish a mechanism to regulate social media to avoid its misuse.

    “As Pakistanis, we can request the management of X to remove anti-state content uploaded by terrorists,” he added.

  • Imran Khan to face trial over controversial post

    Imran Khan to face trial over controversial post

    Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a case against the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, for a controversial post made on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

    Recalling the tweet posted by former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, FIA declared his post controversial, claiming that it was inciting government officials to mutiny.

    The FIA Cybercrime Wing’s inquiry revolves around a video uploaded on May 26, in which Khan’s X account reportedly stated: “Every Pakistani should study the Hamood ur Rahman Commission Report and get to know who was the true traitor, General Yahya Khan or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

    Meanwhile, founder PTI Khan refused to answer to FIA interrogation until his lawyer was present with him.

    Earlier, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ata Tarrar hinted at the possible probe of Khan’s social media account by FIA, claiming that accounts were allegedly used to “create chaos and anarchy” in the country and “undermining the national security,” Associated Press Pakistan (APP) reported.

    The minister claimed that posts associated with Khan were trying to mobilise the people against major institution heads, including the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).

    Commenting on Khan’s post claiming his comparison with Bangladesh’s founder, Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Tarar stated that the Bangladeshi public is now demolishing Mujeeb’s statue.

  • Did CJP Isa really seek an extension? X exchange settles the debate

    Did CJP Isa really seek an extension? X exchange settles the debate

    An interesting exchange occurred between The News’ journalist Fakhar Durrani and lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii on X, formerly Twitter, regarding the alleged “judicial package” or extension in the tenure of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa.

    The exchange between the two started when Abdul Moiz took to X to condemn Senator Irfan Siddiqui’s recent op-ed in Jang magazine commending Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, who is the next in line to become the CJP.

    Moiz wrote, “This soft signalling by the PMLN through irfan sb of their acceptance of SMASH as CJP is frankly too little and too late. Not that it would have made a difference to begin with.”

    Fakhar Durrani disagreed with Moiz saying, “Jaferii bhai my humble suggestion, if someone’s propaganda is exposed they should accept their mistake gracefully instead of blaming others that they have failed.”

    He further said that Express Tribune’s court reporter Hasnat Malik was the first to report in a May 16 article that CJP Isa did not want an extension.

    Jafrii took Fakhar’s bait, asking him why Hasnat has consistently reported about the alleged judicial package.

    Fakhar Durrani replied, “Have you relied on the sourced material which he published on Express Tribune? Is there any report published in Express Tribune which resulted in shaping your opinion that QFE is adamant to get extension? Or you are solely relying on his YouTube reports?”

    He stated that journalists must follow a code of conduct and editorial policies when publishing on a credible platform. In contrast, YouTube is an “unchecked platform where there’s no editorial check and balance.”

    Jafrii sarcastically replied that one cannot deem a source credible and non-credible simultaneously, referring to Hasnat Malik’s stories.

    Fakhar then replied in detail, saying, “As a lawyer, whatever you say in the street/outside courtroom, can you repeat the same before the court? Every profession has some set of principles, ethics and code of conduct.”

    Durrani further stated, “The same applies to journalism. When you report for your official media organisation, you have to follow certain principles and answer your editors’ questions. Most of the time, you have to prove your story with evidence before the editors, and then it gets published.”

    Abdul Moiz did not back down and replied, “It is because of the YouTube journalism of @HasnaatMalik @Matiullahjan919 @AsadAToor @saqibbashir156 @AhmedASarfraz @SohailRashid8 and co that qazi sb became chief. Their journalism today has allowed the legal fraternity and the judiciary to galvanise together and see the forest for the trees.”

    Fakhar Durrani then replied in detail to YouTuber Matiaullah Jan’s dialogue with reporters Hasnaat Malik and Saqib Bashir and the image of a letter by CJP Isa dated August 28 in which he explicitly stated that he wanted the meeting regarding High Court Justices on May 3, but due to majority opinion, it was deferred.

    He asked, “Do you think these journalists can’t read the minutes of the meeting or a letter. They do. But even then they are trolling and propagating that QFE deferred the meeting because he wants to get extension. Lastly. I never get excited. One can argue when you come up with logic. If a learned lawyer like you start labeling any dissenting voice as if they are in sync with establishment, there will be no debate.”

  • ‘It’s not possible’; Reporting in internet-challenged Pakistan

    ‘It’s not possible’; Reporting in internet-challenged Pakistan

    With the primary shift from newspapers to television channels and now to digital media applications, the dissemination of information has become increasingly competitive for newsrooms, with the latest updates just a click away.

    “Delays can be managed with newspapers, but today everything is in your hands—specifically, mobile phones,” says Raees Ansari, Bureau Chief of Geo News in Lahore.

    “Every single second is crucial in reporting now; some footage needs to be sent and put on air instantly. But due to poor network conditions and slow WhatsApp, content is not being sent on time, which is affecting our professional activities,” he reveals.

    Over the past week, internet users across Pakistan have reported network disruptions, with WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram experiencing slowdowns, hindering online activities. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has denied any connection between these issues and the alleged firewall installation.

    Since the ban on X (formerly Twitter) on February 17, 2024, many have turned to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). The ongoing disturbances, however, have complicated internet usage, which is crucial for a number of professions.

    Sumaira Raja, an investigative reporter, who is mostly found out on the field, complains of encountering issues with not only the internet but also phone signals which often prevents her from conveying news on time.

    “I also experience delays with receiving beepers, as head office frequently reports that the number is not available due to poor signals. This situation makes it very difficult to do my job. I’ve tried using a VPN, but it hasn’t worked,” Raja says.

    Sports journalist Faizan Lakhani recalls when javelin champion Arshad Nadeem returned to Pakistan on August 17 after winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, all the visuals sent through WhatsApp by reporters were delayed, and they struggled to download them unless they used a VPN.

    “This situation is very challenging and affects our workflow. When reporters are working on a story or covering an event, they need to stay connected with the desk. We usually rely on voice notes to pass instructions, but since we started encountering this issue, we are struggling with that method too,” he says.

    “We have been told that the network disruption is because of the firewall installation. While things are becoming easier around the world, it has been getting harder for us. Everything is happening with the help of technology and the current situation is a major challenge.” says Ansari.

    What’s happening?

    A highly placed source in the IT industry identifies that filtering of content delivery networks (CDNs) through Firewall is causing content to be routed via internet backbone rather than CDNs.

    “This means that around 4 TBs of internet traffic previously served through CDNs, hosted in Pakistan, is becoming ineffective. When all traffic goes on backbone bypassing CDNs, it’s causing massive slowdown at many western destinations that’s happening now,” he explains.

    Recently, Fiverr, an online marketplace for freelance services, warned clients that Pakistani freelancers may experience delays due to internet issues and the use of VPNs to change their locations.

    “Brace for impact. God save the internet in Pakistan”, says the IT expert.

    Background

    It all started on February 17, 2024, about a week into the new government, when X (formerly Twitter) was banned.

    Initially, amid the uproar, the government remained silent on the matter while the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) seemed aloof until the High Courts of Sindh and Islamabad intervened. The PTA eventually admitted that the ban on X was imposed on the orders of the Ministry of Interior based on reports from intelligence agencies.

    The government eventually justified the ban by attributing it to national security concerns, citing ‘digital terrorism‘ and online propaganda as among the threats.

    Earlier in August, Provincial Information Minister Azma Bokhari stated that the government is not against social media but wants to focus on rules and regulations, which, if enforced, could lead to the removal of the ban on X.

    The disruption has now extended beyond X, affecting other widely used apps along with the internet.

    Ironically, since the February 2024 election, the new government has emphasised the need to grow the tech industry in Pakistan.

    In March, Lahore Knowledge Park (a science park) was handed over to the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority with the approval of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz, with the goal of establishing Pakistan’s largest IT city.

    In June, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Shenzhen— the tech hub in China— in hopes of future collaboration. Ironically, he posted on X (Twitter), expressing how “impressed” he was by the “city’s skyline and development that symbolizes modern-day China.”

    Given the lack of proper infrastructure in the country amid burgeoning surveillance, how will Pakistan evolve in the rapidly transforming digital world? It remains to be seen – but likely we won’t be able to download it.

  • Social media apps including WhatsApp experiencing slowdowns yet again

    Social media apps including WhatsApp experiencing slowdowns yet again

    Users across various cities in Pakistan are dealing with drastically slow internet. Reports indicate that messaging apps like WhatsApp are also facing slowdowns.

    People are encountering issues with messages not being downloaded on WhatsApp.

    Geo news reports that according to Down Detector, a website that monitors social media app performance, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram are among the platforms that have been slow.