UK regulator Ofcom probes Elon Musk’s X over Grok AI. (Photo: Canva)
Britain’s media regulator, Ofcom, has launched a formal investigation into Elon Musk-owned X to assess whether sexually explicit deepfakes generated by its Grok AI chatbot breach the platform’s legal duty to protect UK users from harmful and illegal content.
Ofcom said it was responding to “deeply concerning reports” that Grok had been used to create and share non-consensual undressed images of individuals, potentially constituting intimate image abuse or pornography, as well as sexualised images of children that could amount to child sexual abuse material, both of which are illegal under UK law.
When asked for comment on Monday on the launch of the formal investigation, X pointed to a previous statement in which it said it takes action against illegal content on the platform, including child sexual abuse material, by removing it, permanently suspending accounts, and working with local governments and law enforcement as necessary.
“Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content,” it said.
The regulator is under pressure to act after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday the images produced by Grok were “disgusting” and “unlawful”.
Musk’s X had to “get a grip” on Grok, Starmer said.
Asked on Monday whether X could be banned, Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Yes, of course,” but he noted that the power to do so lay with Ofcom.
Fellow minister Liz Kendall welcomed Ofcom’s formal investigation, adding that it must be completed swiftly.
Creating or sharing non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material, including AI-generated sexual imagery, is illegal in Britain.
Additionally, tech platforms must prevent British users from encountering illegal content and remove it once they become aware of it.
X has faced condemnation in other countries over the feature, which can produce images of women and minors in skimpy clothing.
French officials have reported X to prosecutors and regulators, calling the content “manifestly illegal,” while Indian authorities have also demanded explanations.
X said it has restricted requests to undress people in images to paying users.
Ofcom will investigate whether X failed to assess the risk that people in Britain would see illegal content, and whether it considered the risk to children.
Ofcom said in the most serious cases of non-compliance it could ask a court to require “payment providers or advertisers to withdraw their services from a platform”, or make internet service providers block access to a site in Britain.
(With Reuters Inputs)
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
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