Letters: Grok isn't the problem. Men are the problem

Readers respond to the wave of explicit deepfake images on Elon Musk’s X created by AI tool Grok

Responses to: Grok is flooding X with sexualised images

This is exactly why “free speech” cannot be separated from accountability. When powerful tools are deployed without safeguards, consent becomes optional and harm becomes scalable. 

AI doesn’t operate in a vacuum – platforms choose what they allow, monetise or ignore. Regulation isn’t censorship; it’s protection. Safety, consent and dignity must come before profit.

@operationsafeguard, Instagram

Public action taken against this probably works in favour of the platform by dog-whistling to all the morons who use (or would use) the service. Best way would be to just take it down on the quiet with regulatory measures until they get the message and do something about it.

@elliott_dah, Instagram

Grok isn’t the problem; it’s merely the tool. Men are the problem. The overwhelming amount of these image requests are coming from men. Elon Musk should do better, but he won’t be overly concerned. 

You could ban Grok, you could make X become listed as an XXX site, etc, etc, but the type of fragile, sick men who request these images will still exist and they will seek to exploit other technologies to feed their need to be in control of women and to sexualise children. 

Any legislation should seek to find and criminalise these men, to make some attempt at making them face consequences for their actions.

@hogmagandy, Instagram

Simple solution. Ban X or Twitter or whatever it’s called. Ban it until Musk deals with the unsavoury aspects of Grok, to the satisfaction of regulators. Just ban it.

@kinlika.bsky.social

Fine Musk 10% of his total wealth per day.

@robwright78.bsky.social

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On socials or email letters@bigissue.com 

I was intrigued by Bird’s Words in the New Year Special Edition, but surprised to learn that he favoured Constable’s cosy pastoral paintings rather than Turner’s tempestuous approach to his canvases.

I get the impression from Lord Bird’s articles that the latter approach would be far more his style when attending subcommittees and think-tank meetings, in order to shake successive governments out of their somnolent approach to homelessness and poverty.

I have a vested interest in Turner as I recently reworked his monumental painting Slave Ship by replacing the slave ship with a small boat and replacing the drowning slaves with drowning migrants. It was featured in Big Issue in 2024 and has raised almost £4,000 for Migrant Awareness Programmes in West Africa and other needy causes.

The unlikely and timely coincidence of Lord Bird’s words has prompted me to write this letter and to thank those good-hearted readers who purchased prints of Migrant Ship via my website, which are still available.

Tim Lee

Social credits

Asylum seekers “with assets will be forced to contribute to their bed and board” notes Chris Grover. A middle way could be a support vision rather than benefits with strings. One hybrid solution would be to integrate social banking with a public benefits framework, where paupers become contributors to enhance opportunities and focus on capability building.

So, the way it could work is that one hour of service equals one time credit earned by tasks such as simple repairs, admin for non-profits, showing up for preventative health appointments, mental health support groups, securing official identification, opening a bank account, etc.

And credits earned could be used in various meaningful ways: examples range from clothes, shelter or sleeping bags to delivery vouchers, healthy meals, laptops and help with CV or interview techniques. The idea is for any tiered redemption catalogue to be genuinely motivating to break the tyranny of the immediate. Moreover, survival benefits would not be cut for failing to engage; instead, an opportunity would exist to improve one’s direct circumstances. 

Bastiaan van Drempt

Responses to: Disabled climbers feel shut out from the sport 

It took me a while to find an accessible gym after my stroke, and although I didn’t have to use a wheelchair by then, I can see how horrible and difficult it must be. The disabled toilet at my gym doesn’t have a mirror or a hand dryer. It’s all ridiculous, and more should be done to make places accessible.

Alicja Faryniarz, Facebook

If only it were climbing walls that were inaccessible due to door width! Life is inaccessible to disabled people due to the width of things.

Kat Paylor-Bent, Facebook

Oh, let’s not forget that all the bouldering area has crash mats which I can’t hop my chair onto.

There are other issues, as the photo clearly shows, which include poor posture and asking for a neck injury, sitting in a chair, belaying and looking up at a partner.

Ann Lewis, Facebook

But then, if you actually do any sport, you’ll lose your benefits just like that disabled guy who was playing cricket with his prosthetic leg. Ridiculous.

Kate BedboundAnd Beyond, Facebook

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