LONDON (Kashmir English): The United Kingdom (UK) media regulator started an investigation into Elon Musk’s X on Monday to determine whether sexually intimate deepfakes produced by its Grok AI chatbot violated its duty to protect people in the country from content that could be illegal.
“There have been deeply concerning reports of the Grok AI chatbot account on X being used to create and share undressed images of people which may amount to intimate image abuse or pornography and sexualised images of children that may amount to child sexual abuse material,” Ofcom said in a statement.
Ofcom is the UK’s regulator for the communications services the residents use and rely on each day. It is under pressure to act after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the images produced by Grok were “disgusting” and “unlawful”.
In reply to a question of 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.
Grok images are disgusting: PM UK
Ofcom is under pressure to act after the UK Prime Minister 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 for the same, Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Yes, of course,” but he noted that the power to do so lays with Ofcom.
Creating or sharing non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material, including AI-generated sexual imagery, is illegal in the UK.
Additionally, tech platforms must prevent British users from encountering illegal content and remove it once they become aware of it.
The social media platform has faced condemnation in other countries over the feature, which can produce images of women and minors in skimpy clothing.
