<\/p>\n
Ofcom has opened a formal probe into Elon Musk\u2019s platform X and its AI tool Grok following reports of sexualised deepfake images, prompting a fierce debate over platform responsibility and regulatory compliance under the UK’s new online safety legislation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk\u2019s AI chatbot Grok and its parent platform X after reports that the tool was being used to generate sexualised deepfake images, a development described by the reporting outlet as \u201cdeeply concerning\u201d. The same report quoted Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling the images \u201cdisgusting\u201d and \u201cunlawful\u201d, and saying X must \u201cget a grip\u201d on the application, while Downing Street indicated it was prepared to consider leaving the platform if adequate action was not taken. [1]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n The UK regulator said it will examine whether X failed to meet its legal duties under the Online Safety Act by allowing the creation and dissemination of non-consensual intimate images and sexualised images of children, which could amount to intimate image abuse, pornography or child sexual abuse material. Ofcom\u2019s public statement made clear the investigation will assess the platform\u2019s compliance and the steps X took after an initial request for information. [3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Under the Online Safety Act, platforms carrying potentially harmful content face strict obligations to protect users, including age verification measures such as facial checks or payment-card verification, and duties to remove illegal material. Government guidance explains the legislation gives Ofcom powers to enforce compliance, including the ability to impose significant fines or to require measures that could lead to a de facto blocking of a service in the UK. [6]<\/a><\/sup>[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n X has said it removes illegal content, suspends accounts and works with law enforcement where necessary, and the company restricted Grok\u2019s image-generation feature to paying subscribers in the wake of the backlash. That step was widely criticised by victims\u2019 groups, politicians and campaigners as insufficient and as an attempt to limit scrutiny rather than address the underlying harms. According to reporting, the move to monetise access drew condemnation as an \u201caffront to victims\u201d. [4]<\/a><\/sup>[5]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Campaigners and some ministers have urged rapid action, arguing that any delay compounds harm to victims whose images are generated and shared without consent. Industry observers said the case highlights broader tensions between fast-developing generative AI tools and existing regulatory frameworks, which were not designed for large-scale, automated image fabrication. [5]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Ofcom has the authority to impose fines of up to 10 percent of a company\u2019s worldwide revenue for breaches of the Online Safety Act and, if necessary, to require internet service providers to block access to an offending service in the UK. The regulator said it would act if it found X had failed to comply with its obligations. [3]<\/a><\/sup>[6]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n The investigation places X and Grok at the centre of a high-profile test of the UK\u2019s new online-safety regime, and will be watched closely by governments, civil-society groups and technology firms as regulators attempt to bind rapidly evolving AI capabilities to existing legal protections for privacy and children online. [3]<\/a><\/sup>[6]<\/a><\/sup>[5]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n ##Reference Map:<\/p>\n\ud83d\udccc Reference Map:<\/h3>\n
\n