Britain’s media watchdog Ofcom has initiated a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s X platform regarding its AI chatbot Grok’s image generation capabilities. The probe centers on allegations that the tool has been exploited to produce non-consensual sexualized imagery of women and children through simple text prompts.
This investigation marks a significant test case under the UK’s recently implemented Online Safety Act, which came into force in July. The legislation explicitly prohibits media platforms from creating or distributing intimate images without consent or child sexual abuse material, including AI-generated deepfakes.
Ofcom expressed deep concern over reports of Grok being used to generate inappropriate content, stating that such imagery could constitute intimate image abuse or pornography when depicting adults, and potentially child sexual abuse material when involving minors. The regulator had previously contacted X on January 5th requesting details about protective measures for UK users, receiving a response within the stipulated timeframe though specifics remain undisclosed.
The investigation will determine whether X violated its legal obligations under the new online safety framework. Platforms falling under the Act’s jurisdiction must implement robust age verification systems, potentially including facial recognition or credit card authentication, to shield users from harmful content.
Concurrently, X has attempted to address mounting international criticism by restricting Grok’s image generation feature to paying subscribers—a move UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned as inadequate and offensive to victims. The controversy has prompted regulatory responses beyond Britain, with Indonesia becoming the first nation to completely block access to Grok, followed by Malaysia. The European Commission has also confirmed it is examining complaints regarding the AI tool.
Ofcom possesses authority to levy substantial penalties for violations, including fines up to 10% of global revenue, underscoring the serious consequences X could face if found non-compliant with Britain’s digital safety standards.