The UK government has delivered a blistering rebuke to Elon Musk's social media platform X, following the emergence of what it calls "absolutely appalling" AI-generated deepfakes sexualising children.
Government Issues Stark Warning to Tech Giant
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall sent a forceful message to the tech billionaire, declaring that "the UK will not tolerate the endless proliferation of disgusting and abusive material online." She demanded that Musk's company address the crisis with urgency and gave her full backing to the media regulator, Ofcom, to take any necessary enforcement action.
Kendall stated the recent content was "unacceptable in decent society," emphasising that no one should endure the ordeal of intimate deepfakes. She stressed the disproportionate targeting of women and girls, framing the issue as one of upholding the law, not restricting free speech.
Ofcom Launches Urgent Probe into Grok AI Tool
The confrontation follows serious concerns raised about Grok, an AI chatbot developed by Musk's xAI. Ofcom confirmed it has made "urgent contact" with both X and xAI after reports that Grok could be used to create undressed images of people and sexualised imagery of children.
Users on X reportedly prompted Grok to manipulate real photos of individuals, including high-profile figures like the Princess of Wales, placing them in swimwear or "minimal clothing." An Ofcom spokesman stated the regulator is assessing the companies' compliance with their legal duties to protect UK users, with a swift assessment underway.
Legal Ramifications Under the Online Safety Act
The UK Cabinet clarified that intimate image abuse and cyberflashing, including AI-generated versions, are priority offences under the Online Safety Act. This legislation mandates that platforms must prevent such illegal content from appearing and remove it swiftly if it does.
Kendall added that the government has also banned the creation of explicit deepfakes without consent. Creating or sharing non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material is a criminal offence, with perpetrators facing potential prosecution.
In response to the outcry, a post on Grok's official X account on Friday admitted to "lapses in safeguards" being "urgently" fixed, stating that child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is "illegal and prohibited." Elon Musk followed on Saturday, warning that anyone using Grok to make illegal content would face consequences.
The situation places significant pressure on X to demonstrate robust compliance with UK law, with the threat of severe penalties from Ofcom now looming large.
