X now lets any user AI-edit other users’ images without consent, and there is no opt out

A few days ago X introduced a new AI Image Editing button that lets any user modify images posted by others, even without the original uploader’s consent. Image owners are not notified when edits are made, and the feature is enabled by default with no opt-out option (at least not so far).

Any user can access an Edit Image button on standard image posts, which opens a prompt based interface powered by Grok and returns edits within seconds. The tool includes options for writing prompts, previewing results, and sharing the altered image across profile pages and the For You feed. The button appears on all profiles, regardless of whether they belong to regular users, verified accounts, or public figures.

The rollout has triggered backlash not only among artists and photographers, who see their copyrighted content being used and modified with little effort, but it has also affected thousands of regular users, especially women whose perfectly normal shared photos are being edited into suggestive or invasive scenarios without consent, which is an explicit violation of privacy.

So far, one suggested workaround is converting PNGs and JPGs into GIFs so they are less likely to be recognized by the AI, although nothing truly prevents photos from being downloaded and edited using an external service. We're just doomed I guess.