UK Launches Formal Investigation into Elon Musk’s X Over Grok-Generated Sexualised Deepfakes
British media regulator Ofcom probes whether AI misuse on X breached Online Safety laws amid global alarm over non-consensual intimate imagery
The United Kingdom’s communications regulator, Ofcom, has opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X to determine whether its integrated artificial intelligence tool, Grok, has been used to generate and distribute sexualised deepfake images that may violate British law.
The inquiry was launched after mounting reports that users were prompting Grok to create non-consensual and explicit images of women and minors, prompting expressions of condemnation from senior officials in London.
Ofcom said there were “deeply concerning” reports of Grok being used to produce and share imagery that could constitute intimate image abuse, pornography and potentially child sexual abuse material, triggering a review of X’s compliance with duties under the Online Safety Act.
Under that legislation, platforms must prevent UK users from encountering illegal content and quickly remove material that violates legal standards.
The regulator holds significant powers, including the ability to seek court orders to block access or impose financial penalties, potentially up to ten per cent of a company’s global revenue or a minimum fine of £18 million.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the reports as “disgusting” and “unlawful,” pressing X to get “a grip” on the issue and giving Ofcom his government’s full backing to act.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall echoed the stance, condemning the use of AI to manipulate images of individuals, particularly children, and signalling that stronger legislative measures could be pursued.
The UK government is also moving to criminalise the creation and distribution of non-consensual AI-generated intimate images under forthcoming legal reforms.
X has taken initial steps to limit Grok’s image-generation features, restricting them to paying users on its platform, but regulators and ministers have dismissed such measures as insufficient.
The platform maintains that it removes illegal content and suspends accounts that violate its policies, and Musk has accused critics of seeking censorship.
Ofcom and UK officials will now assess X’s responses and take evidence before issuing a provisional ruling, in a case that could set new precedents for the regulation of generative AI technologies and online safety in Britain.
The inquiry was launched after mounting reports that users were prompting Grok to create non-consensual and explicit images of women and minors, prompting expressions of condemnation from senior officials in London.
Ofcom said there were “deeply concerning” reports of Grok being used to produce and share imagery that could constitute intimate image abuse, pornography and potentially child sexual abuse material, triggering a review of X’s compliance with duties under the Online Safety Act.
Under that legislation, platforms must prevent UK users from encountering illegal content and quickly remove material that violates legal standards.
The regulator holds significant powers, including the ability to seek court orders to block access or impose financial penalties, potentially up to ten per cent of a company’s global revenue or a minimum fine of £18 million.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the reports as “disgusting” and “unlawful,” pressing X to get “a grip” on the issue and giving Ofcom his government’s full backing to act.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall echoed the stance, condemning the use of AI to manipulate images of individuals, particularly children, and signalling that stronger legislative measures could be pursued.
The UK government is also moving to criminalise the creation and distribution of non-consensual AI-generated intimate images under forthcoming legal reforms.
X has taken initial steps to limit Grok’s image-generation features, restricting them to paying users on its platform, but regulators and ministers have dismissed such measures as insufficient.
The platform maintains that it removes illegal content and suspends accounts that violate its policies, and Musk has accused critics of seeking censorship.
Ofcom and UK officials will now assess X’s responses and take evidence before issuing a provisional ruling, in a case that could set new precedents for the regulation of generative AI technologies and online safety in Britain.
