Ofcom has opened a formal probe into X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, amid concerns that its artificial intelligence chatbot Grok is being used to generate and distribute sexualised and illegal images.
The UK communications regulator said it had received “deeply troubling reports” that Grok was being used to create images showing people undressed without their consent, as well as sexualised images involving children. Such material is illegal under UK law.
According to the regulator, if X is found to have breached its legal obligations, it could face a fine of up to £18 million or 10% of its global annual turnover, whichever is higher. Ofcom also has the power to ask a court to order UK internet providers to block access to X if the company fails to comply.
The BBC has contacted X for a response. In earlier comments, Elon Musk suggested the UK government was looking for “any excuse for censorship”, after questions were raised about why Grok was being singled out compared with other AI platforms.
Journalists from the BBC have reviewed multiple altered images circulating on X in which women were digitally undressed and placed into sexualised scenarios without their consent. One victim said more than 100 fake sexual images had been created of her using the tool.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall is due to address Parliament on the issue. Her predecessor, Peter Kyle, described the situation as “appalling”, saying the AI tool had not been properly tested before being released. He recalled meeting a Jewish woman whose image had been manipulated by AI to show her in a bikini outside Auschwitz, calling it deeply disturbing.
Ofcom will now assess whether X failed to remove illegal material quickly after it was flagged and whether it took sufficient steps to prevent UK users from seeing such content. The regulator said the investigation would focus on material including non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse imagery.
The move comes after growing international criticism of Grok’s image-generation feature, with Malaysia and Indonesia recently blocking access to the tool. Ofcom said the case would be treated as a top priority, especially given the potential risk to children.
Platforms, the watchdog stressed, have a legal duty to keep users in the UK safe from illegal and harmful content.
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