UK regulators have launched an investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, over concerns its artificial intelligence tool, Grok, is being used to create sexualized images, including those of children.
Investigation Details
Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, stated there have been “deeply concerning reports” of the chatbot being used to create and share undressed images of individuals, as well as “sexualised images of children.”
If found to have violated regulations, X could face a fine of up to 10% of its worldwide revenue or £18 million, whichever is greater.
X directed inquiries to a statement posted by its Safety account on January 2: “Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.”
Musk’s Response and Wider Concerns
Elon Musk responded to the investigation by stating the UK government was seeking “any excuse for censorship” in response to a post questioning why other AI platforms were not also being scrutinized.
The BBC has reported seeing several digitally altered images on X depicting women undressed and placed in sexual positions without their consent. One woman reported that more than 100 sexualized images had been created of her.
Ofcom also has the authority to seek a court order to compel internet service providers to block access to X within the UK if the platform does not comply with the investigation’s findings.
Political Reaction
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall welcomed the investigation and urged Ofcom to complete it swiftly. “It is vital that Ofcom complete this investigation swiftly because the public – and most importantly the victims – will not accept any delay,” she said.
Peter Kyle, Kendall’s predecessor, described it as “appalling” that Grok had “not been tested appropriately.” He recounted meeting a Jewish woman who discovered an AI-generated image of herself in a bikini outside of Auschwitz.
Cara Hunter, a Northern Ireland politician, announced she had left the platform due to the concerns. Downing Street stated the government remains focused on “protecting children” and would keep its presence on X “under review.”
Victim Testimony
Dr. Daisy Dixon, who previously told the BBC she felt “humiliated” after multiple instances of people using Grok to undress her, welcomed the investigation. “For Musk and others to call this an excuse for censorship just deflects from the issue at hand – systematic violence against women and girls,” she said. “If X defenders really cared about misogyny and child pornography, they’d call on Musk to comply immediately and stop deflecting in bad faith.”
Ofcom’s Priorities
Ofcom will examine whether X failed to promptly remove illegal content upon becoming aware of it and whether it took “appropriate steps” to prevent UK users from accessing such content, including non-consensual intimate images and child sexual imagery. The regulator will also assess whether X has implemented “highly effective age assurance” measures to prevent children from viewing pornographic images.
The investigation follows similar actions in Malaysia and Indonesia, which temporarily blocked access to Grok over the weekend.
An Ofcom spokesperson stated the investigation would be a “matter of the highest priority” and emphasized that platforms “must protect people in the UK from content that’s illegal in the UK.”
Lorna Woods, a professor of internet law at Essex University, noted that the speed of the investigation is at Ofcom’s discretion. Clare McGlynn, a law professor at Durham University, argued that the debate over potentially blocking X in the UK was a “distraction,” emphasizing the need for action to prevent the creation of illegal images and facilitate their removal.
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