Police are being called upon to conduct an investigation into Elon Musk and X following a surge in sexually explicit deepfakes circulating on the social media platform. Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has voiced his opinion that a criminal inquiry should be initiated into the matter. He emphasized the need for a serious approach to the issue, stating that his party is taking it more seriously than others.
Under the UK’s Online Safety Act, Ofcom has the authority to penalize, disrupt, or shut down access to social media platforms that do not adhere to strict regulations, particularly in safeguarding children online. Ofcom is currently engaged in an investigation regarding the situation.
Sir Ed indicated that he is contemplating the possibility of dissociating from X, considering the party’s critical stance towards Mr. Musk. He expressed the importance of maintaining a strong Liberal voice on the platform but emphasized the need for X to be suspended while Ofcom carries out its investigation.
Ofcom recently launched a formal investigation into X to determine if the platform has violated its legal obligations under the Online Safety Act. Potential penalties include fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue, along with business disruption measures.
Meanwhile, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall condemned the use of X’s AI chatbot Grok to produce “weapons of abuse,” emphasizing the need for legislation to prevent the creation of non-consensual intimate images. The Crime and Policing Bill aims to criminalize apps that enable the creation of fake nude images, targeting the issue at its root.
Ms. Kendall highlighted the devastating impact of non-consensual images, particularly on women and girls, describing them as tools of abuse that violate human dignity and must be dealt with severely.
In response to concerns raised by MPs, Ms. Kendall stated that the government will review its engagement with X. Ofcom has also raised alarms over potential misuse of Grok by X and xAI, particularly in creating sexualized images of minors.
Efforts are underway to address the issue, with Ofcom emphasizing the importance of platforms protecting users from illegal content and committing to investigating any lapses in safeguarding measures promptly. The gravity of the situation is underscored by the discovery of inappropriate content involving children created using Grok.
Both X and Musk have acknowledged the need to address these issues seriously, with Musk warning that users producing illegal content through Grok will face consequences. However, X’s decision to offer deepfake creation as a premium service has drawn criticism for monetizing abusive practices.
The government and regulatory bodies are actively working to combat the proliferation of harmful content online, with a focus on protecting vulnerable individuals and holding platforms accountable for their role in facilitating abuse.