Grok is facing international backlash for allowing users to create and share sexual photos
A Downing Street spokesman added: “We will not hesitate to go further to protect children online and strengthen the law as necessary.” PHOTO: REUTERS
Britain’s media regulator Ofcom on Monday launched a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s X over the image-making potential of AI chatbot Grok that has been used to produce sexual deepfakes.
Grok is facing growing international backlash for allowing users to create and share sexualized photos of women and children using simple text messages.
Ofcom described the reports as “deeply worrying”.
It said in a statement that unattached images of people “may amount to intimate image abuse or pornography — and sexualized images of children … may amount to child sexual abuse material.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office welcomed the investigation, saying Ofcom “has our full support in taking any action it deems appropriate”.
A Downing Street spokesman added: “We will not hesitate to go further to protect children online and strengthen the law as necessary.”
Ofcom said it contacted X on January 5 asking it to explain the measures it has taken to protect UK users.
Read more: Malaysia blocks Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot for pornographic AI images
Without sharing details of the exchange, the regulator said X responded within the given time frame.
The official investigation will determine whether X “failed to comply with its legal obligations”.
Contacted by AFP, X referred to an earlier statement, which said: “We are taking action against illegal content on X… by removing it, permanently suspending accounts and cooperating with local governments and law enforcement as required.”
Global reaction
Under Britain’s Internet Safety Act, which came into effect in July, websites, social media and video-sharing platforms hosting potentially harmful content are required to implement strict age verification through tools such as facial images or credit card checks.
Meanwhile, it is illegal for media sites to create or share non-consensual personal images or child sexual abuse material, including AI-generated sexual deepfakes.
Ofcom has the power to impose fines of 10 per cent of global revenue for breaches of these rules.
Grok appeared to deflect international criticism with a new monetization policy late last week, posting on X that the tool was now “restricted to paying subscribers,” along with a link to a premium subscription.
Starmer condemned the move as an insult to victims and “not a solution”.
Musk dismissed the UK’s criticism this weekend, posting on X that they “just want to suppress free speech.”
On Saturday, Indonesia became the first country to deny all access to the tool, with Malaysia following on Sunday.
The European Commission, which acts as the EU’s digital watchdog, ordered X to retain all internal documents and data related to Grok until the end of 2026 in response to the furor.
“We will not entrust the protection and consent of children to Silicon Valley,” European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday.
“If they don’t act, we will,” he added.
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