In reaction to new artificial intelligence policies from social network X, renowned manga artists have decided to stop sharing their illustrations on the platform. The main figure is illustrator Boichi, famous for his work on the series Dr. Stone, who announced the pause in publishing his art and comics on X on December 25th of last year. The decision, which gained momentum in early 2026, is directly caused by the launch of a new AI image editing tool, leading creators to fear the unauthorized use of their work for algorithm training. Therefore, they are migrating their art to other networks, such as Instagram and Bluesky, seeking greater control over their intellectual property.
As a result of this change, fans will have to follow the artists on other platforms to see their original illustrations. Boichi, however, made it clear that he is not completely abandoning X, where he will continue sharing news and interacting. Besides him, other creators, such as Kei Urana (Gachiakuta) and Mokumokuren (The Summer Hikaru Died), have also drastically reduced or stopped posting art on Elon Musk’s network. The central issue, therefore, is not a total boycott, but a strategic protection of creative assets in a still murky digital landscape.
The Copyright Debate in the AI Era
The core of the discussion, which intensifies in 2026, is legal. X’s AI tool generates derivative images, which experts point to as a potential copyright violation. Grant Smith, a lawyer consulted for the original report, explains that AI rendering is a derivative work and thus likely infringes the artist’s rights. However, courts are still building jurisprudence on the topic. An emblematic case, cited by Smith, involves Game of Thrones authors suing OpenAI and Microsoft, with the lawsuit proceeding in American courts since last October. Thus, a ruling favorable to the authors could set a crucial precedent for artists worldwide.
Social network X, in turn, maintains a channel in its terms of service for reporting copyright infringements. Although this openness is seen as a measure of corporate responsibility, the actual effectiveness of the process against mass AI violations remains a major unknown. Meanwhile, the artists’ migration to Bluesky and Instagram shows a practical search for environments perceived as safer. The movement that began in late 2025 serves as a clear signal to the industry: the relationship between human creation and artificial intelligence will require new agreements and, very likely, new legal battles throughout this year.
