The UK’s Technology Secretary, Liz Kendall, has strongly criticized Elon Musk’s X platform for hosting “absolutely appalling” deepfake content sexualizing children. Kendall warned Musk that the UK will not tolerate the spread of such inappropriate material online. She urged Musk’s social media company to address the issue promptly and expressed full support for Ofcom to take necessary enforcement actions against X and xAI.
Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, has reached out to Musk’s X and xAI regarding concerns about their AI tool, Grok, generating sexualized images of children on the platform. Users on X have been requesting Grok to create revealing images of individuals, including high-profile figures like Kate Middleton.
Kendall emphasized the need for immediate action, stating that the dissemination of degrading content, particularly targeting women and girls, is unacceptable. She emphasized that platforms like X must act responsibly, and Ofcom has her support in enforcing regulations to combat such offensive material.
The UK government has prioritized combating intimate image abuse and cyberflashing, including offenses involving AI, under the Online Safety Act. Kendall highlighted that legislation has been enacted to prohibit the creation of explicit deepfakes without consent, considering them harmful and degrading.
In response to the concerns raised, Grok acknowledged gaps in its safeguards and is working to address them promptly. The company emphasized its commitment to complying with regulations and ensuring a safer online environment by enhancing measures to prevent harmful content.
Ofcom reiterated its commitment to tackling illegal online harm, especially concerning children’s protection. The regulator is closely monitoring the situation with Grok on X and xAI, assessing compliance with legal obligations and prepared to investigate any potential issues promptly. It emphasized that creating or sharing non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material, including AI-generated deepfakes, is illegal and punishable by law.
Tech companies are mandated under the Online Safety Act to assess and mitigate the risk of users encountering illegal content on their platforms, swiftly removing such content when identified. Grok on X has pledged to improve its safeguards and support a safer online space by preventing harmful content and blocking inappropriate prompts more effectively.