What happened
The Guardian tested four major chatbots and found that three of them could edit images to remove a hijab when asked.
The Guardian asked ChatGPT (OpenAI), Grok (xAI), Gemini (Google) and Claude (Anthropic) to edit an AI‑generated image of a woman wearing a hijab. Both ChatGPT and Grok complied, producing a version of the image without the head covering. Gemini initially refused to edit a photo of a real person but, when prompted to make the subject look more "western," generated a new image without the hijab. Claude said it lacks an image‑editing and would not remove a hijab even if it could.
The tests were repeated on images of other religious attire. ChatGPT removed a Sikh turban and a Catholic habit when asked, while Gemini behaved similarly after a "more western" prompt. Grok declined to strip a dress from an AI‑generated woman but offered to replace it with a less explicit outfit. The Guardian noted that the behavior mirrors earlier incidents where AI tools were used to create non‑consensual nudity or de‑humanising imagery.
The article also referenced a French far‑right MP who posted a doctored photo of a Muslim woman without her hijab, and a study by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) that links to increased anti‑Muslim visual harassment in India and the United States. The Guardian’s findings therefore sit within a broader pattern of AI‑enabled religious hate.
Source details: theguardian.com ↗
Why it matters
The ability to erase visible religious symbols with a simple prompt highlights a serious oversight in AI providers’ safety guidelines and could be weaponised for anti‑Muslim hate.
Removing a hijab is not merely a cosmetic edit; it can violate a person's privacy, religious freedom, and dignity. The fact that leading AI providers allow such edits with a single text prompt shows that their community‑guideline enforcement is inconsistent and may not align with platform rules on hate speech or harassment.
Experts quoted by The Guardian, including CSOH director Eviane Leidig, warn that these capabilities could embolden extremist actors on social media, especially as platforms like X soften rule enforcement. The technology could be used to produce large‑scale visual propaganda that erases or mocks religious identity, amplifying existing hate campaigns.
The incident also raises regulatory questions. France has already opened investigations into AI‑generated disrobing tools, and Malaysia temporarily restricted Grok. If AI providers do not tighten safeguards, they may face legal challenges under emerging AI‑specific legislation in the EU and elsewhere.
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What to watch next
How the companies revise their content policies, regulator responses, and whether platform enforcement on X and other services changes.
Whether OpenAI, xAI and Google publish updated usage policies that explicitly forbid editing religious symbols without consent, and how quickly those policies are enforced in practice.
Potential regulatory actions in the EU, France, and other jurisdictions that could impose fines or require technical safeguards for image‑editing features.
Responses from social‑media platforms, particularly X, regarding the spread of AI‑generated de‑veiled images and any changes to content‑moderation algorithms.
Follow‑up research from independent labs and NGOs measuring the prevalence of AI‑generated religious harassment online.