The UK is considering prohibiting the use of Elon Musk’s X social media platform by the Government following concerns that its artificial intelligence chatbot was utilized to generate sexualized deepfake images involving children. Downing Street has indicated that various actions, including a potential boycott of X, are being contemplated, with support for media regulator Ofcom to intervene.
Ofcom has engaged in urgent discussions with Musk’s X and xAI regarding worries over their AI tool, Grok, reportedly producing inappropriate images of minors on the platform. The regulator highlighted a feature on Grok, a chatbot developed by xAI, that can create revealing images of individuals and sexualized depictions of children.
In response to the situation, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson condemned the content generated by Grok as unacceptable and emphasized the need for swift action. The Government is considering all options, including potential sanctions, to address the issue and safeguard users from such inappropriate content.
Furthermore, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has instructed Musk’s social media company to address the matter promptly and has extended full support to Ofcom for enforcement actions against X or xAI. Kendall emphasized the UK’s zero-tolerance policy towards offensive online content, urging collaborative efforts to eradicate such material.
Regarding the developments on Grok, the platform acknowledged lapses in safeguards and committed to rectifying them promptly to comply with regulations and ensure a safer online environment. Musk also warned of consequences for individuals using Grok to produce illegal content.
Updates have been rolled out for Grok, with users urged to install the new version. The specifics of the enhancements in the latest release remain undisclosed.
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