UK MP Jess Asato Sues xAI Over Sexualised Deepfakes of Her Image
Her case could test whether AI developers can be held liable for abuse their tools make possible.
British Labour MP Jess Asato, who campaigns against tech-enabled abuse of women and children, was herself targeted by sexualised deepfake images that circulated widely during the 2025 Grok scandal. When X repeatedly rejected her reports, she turned to the courts and is now suing xAI, contending that the company used her likeness without consent. Her case may set a precedent for holding AI developers liable for harms their tools enable. Asato argues that the abuse was avoidable, since other AI tools already refuse requests to strip clothing from real people. xAI had not responded to WIRED's request for comment at the time of publication.
Why it matters
The case puts a direct question to AI developers: whether a company that builds a tool able to produce sexualised images of real people bears responsibility for that output, even after platform complaints have been dismissed. Asato's argument that other AI tools already refuse such requests undercuts any claim that the harm could not have been prevented. For people whose likeness can be used without consent, the outcome may shape what recourse they have when platforms do not act. Since xAI had not responded to requests for comment, how the company will defend itself remains open.
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