Ofcom has initiated a formal inquiry into Elon Musk’s X for the dissemination of sexualized deepfake images generated by its AI chatbot tool. The UK media regulator aims to determine if the social media platform has violated its legal obligations under the Online Safety Act. In case of non-compliance, Ofcom holds the authority to levy fines of up to £18 million or 10% of the company’s global revenue.
Furthermore, Ofcom can implement disruptive measures, such as compelling payment providers or advertising services to cease operations with the platform. The regulator has committed to prioritizing the investigation for swift resolution.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has praised the official investigation and urged Ofcom to expedite the process. She intends to update Members of Parliament on the government’s response later in the day. Kendall emphasized the importance of promptly concluding the investigation to address public concerns, especially those of the victims affected by the distressing content produced through Grok.
Recent reports prompted Ofcom to urgently engage with Musk’s X and xAI regarding alarming issues related to their AI tool, Grok, generating inappropriate images on the platform. The regulator expressed deep concerns over the creation and sharing of illegal intimate images and child sexual abuse material through Grok.
The escalating outcry over objectionable deepfakes on Musk’s X platform, particularly the sexualized images produced by the AI bot Grok without consent, has sparked widespread condemnation. Business Secretary Peter Kyle, a former Tech Secretary, signaled the UK’s intent to take action to enhance online safety, particularly on platforms like X. He criticized X for inadequately safeguarding its users online.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy revealed that US Vice President JD Vance expressed support for tackling the issues surrounding the Grok-generated images during their recent meeting. However, a US official later likened the UK’s response to Russia’s actions. The UK is contemplating measures, including a potential ban akin to Russia’s, to address concerns over inappropriate content dissemination.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reported discovering criminal imagery, potentially created using Grok, depicting children as young as 11 to 13 on a dark web forum. Musk’s X acknowledged deficiencies in its safeguards and vowed to rectify them promptly. The company reiterated its stance against illegal content creation through Grok.
X recently announced that Grok’s deepfake creation feature will become a premium service. This decision was criticized by government officials and labeled as an attempt to profit from abusive content creation. The ongoing developments have raised significant concerns about the proliferation of harmful content online.
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