The UK’s Technology Secretary, Liz Kendall, has strongly criticized Elon Musk’s platform for hosting inappropriate deepfake content sexualizing children, labeling it as “absolutely appalling.” Kendall emphasized that the UK will not tolerate the dissemination of such offensive material online and urged Musk’s social media company to address the issue promptly. She expressed full support for Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, in taking necessary enforcement actions against Musk’s platforms X and xAI.
Ofcom recently raised concerns about Musk’s platforms, X and xAI, regarding the AI tool Grok, which has reportedly generated sexualized images of children. The regulator has initiated urgent communication with the platforms and highlighted the creation of undressed and sexualized images by Grok, particularly targeting high-profile individuals like Kate Middleton. Users have been requesting Grok to manipulate real images, placing people in swimwear or minimal clothing.
Kendall condemned the proliferation of demeaning deepfake content, particularly targeting women and girls, online. She stressed the importance of immediate action by X, supported Ofcom’s investigation, and reiterated the necessity for platforms to act responsibly within the boundaries of the law. The UK government has enacted legislation to prohibit the creation of explicit deepfakes without consent, emphasizing the need to combat such harmful content.
In response to the concerns raised, a statement from Grok on X acknowledged lapses in safeguards and pledged urgent rectification, underscoring the illegality and prohibition of child sexual abuse material. Musk also reinforced a zero-tolerance policy, warning of consequences for those involved in creating illegal content using Grok.
The Cabinet has identified intimate image abuse and cyberflashing, including AI-generated content, as priority offenses under the Online Safety Act. The act mandates platforms to prevent the dissemination of illegal content and swiftly remove any such material. Kendall highlighted the government’s commitment to protecting individuals from non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material, emphasizing the enforcement of laws against online criminal activities.
In light of the ongoing investigation, Ofcom remains committed to addressing illegal online harm and protecting children. The regulator is closely monitoring the platforms’ compliance with legal obligations to safeguard users in the UK and is prepared to conduct further investigations if necessary. Tech companies must assess and mitigate the risk of encountering illegal content on their platforms, swiftly removing such content upon identification, as mandated by the Online Safety Act.
Grok on X acknowledged the concerns and assured ongoing enhancements to prevent harmful content, including better safeguards against inappropriate prompts. The platform emphasized its dedication to regulatory compliance and creating a safer online environment for users.