While Attorney General Gordon Rhea fights the legal battle in court, Virgin Islands residents can take immediate steps to protect their digital likenesses from being exploited by xAI’s “Grok” chatbot.
The 35-state coalition has warned that Grok’s “spicy mode” can turn standard social media photos into nonconsensual deepfakes. Here is how you can “opt-out” and secure your data today:
1. The One-Minute Opt-Out
If you have an X (Twitter) account, you are likely “opted-in” to AI training by default. To stop this:
- On Desktop: Go to Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety > Grok.
- The Switch: Uncheck the box that says: “Allow your posts as well as your interactions, inputs, and results with Grok to be used for training and fine-tuning.”
- Delete History: Click “Delete conversation history” to wipe any previous data the AI has gathered from your direct interactions.
2. Safeguarding Your Children’s Images
The AG’s letter specifically highlights the “alarming” ease with which Grok has altered images of minors.
- Limit Public Access: Consider switching your X account to “Protected” mode. This prevents the AI “web-crawlers” from scraping your photos for its training database.
- The “Watermark” Strategy: When posting photos of family, avoid high-resolution, clear-face shots. Some users now use “cloaking” apps like Glaze or Nightshade which make it impossible for AI to correctly “read” a face.
3. Know Your Rights (The May Deadline)
Under the federal Take It Down Act, which becomes fully enforceable on May 19, 2026, residents will have a powerful new tool:
- 48-Hour Takedown: If you discover a nonconsensual image of yourself or your child, platforms like X will be legally required to remove it within 48 hours of a report.
- Legal Recourse: AG Rhea’s office is already investigating civil and criminal remedies for those targeted by “nudify” tools in the Territory.
A “Behind the Scenes” Tip for You:
Editor’s Note:
“The V.I. Free Press is committed to transparency. This guide was developed following a review of official legal documents provided by the USVI Department of Justice on January 23, 2026.”