Ofcom has initiated a formal inquiry into Elon Musk’s X regarding the production of sexualized deepfake images by its AI chatbot feature. The UK media regulator aims to determine if the social media platform has violated the Online Safety Act. If found guilty, Ofcom has the authority to levy fines of up to £18 million or 10% of their global revenue.
Additionally, Ofcom can implement business disruption measures, such as compelling payment providers or advertisers to withdraw services from the platform. The regulator has committed to prioritizing this investigation.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall praised the investigation and urged Ofcom to expedite the process. She indicated that she would brief Members of Parliament on the government’s response later in the day.
Ofcom recently raised concerns with Musk’s X and xAI about the misuse of their AI tool, Grok, to produce inappropriate content, including sexualized images of minors. The regulator emphasized the importance of platforms protecting UK citizens from illegal content, particularly when it poses risks to children.
There has been growing outrage over offensive deepfake content on Musk’s X platform, particularly the creation of sexualized images by the Grok AI bot without consent. Business Secretary Peter Kyle acknowledged the need for enhanced online safety measures, criticizing X for inadequately safeguarding its users.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy mentioned that US Vice President JD Vance showed understanding towards addressing the issue of inappropriate content generated by Grok. However, there were contrasting views from US officials, with some likening the UK’s proposed actions to those of Russia.
In a separate development, it was revealed that Grok had been used to create unlawful images of children, prompting concerns from the Internet Watch Foundation. The foundation highlighted the gravity of the situation and the potential for further exploitation through advanced technology.
Acknowledging the lapses in safeguarding measures, Grok’s X account acknowledged the urgency in rectifying the issues related to illegal content creation. Musk reiterated the company’s stance on combating illicit content and enforcing consequences for offenders.
X recently announced that the creation of deepfakes through Grok would become a premium service. However, this move was criticized by government officials and advocates, who deemed it as monetizing exploitative content.
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