Pressure is on after PM Keir Starmer mentioned Musk’s X wants to ‘get a grip’ on Grok; Downing Street has threatened to depart platform.
Published On 12 Jan 2026
United Kingdom media regulator Ofcom has launched a proper investigation into Elon Musk’s X over the usage of AI chatbot Grok to generate deepfake sexualised pictures.
Ofcom labelled the stories as “deeply concerning”, warning in a press release issued on Monday that the chatbot’s creation of nude deepfakes may quantity to “intimate image abuse or pornography”, and that “sexualised images of children” may very well be thought-about “child sexual abuse material”.
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The regulator, which has the facility to ban Grok, is beneath stress to act after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned on Thursday that the pictures produced by Grok had been “disgusting” and “unlawful”, and that Musk’s social media platform X had to “get a grip” on the applying.
Ofcom mentioned its investigation will decide whether or not X “failed to comply with its legal obligations”, and was launched after the corporate complied with an earlier request from the regulator to clarify the steps it had taken to defend UK customers.
Asked for a remark, X referred the AFP information company to a earlier assertion, which mentioned it took motion in opposition to unlawful content material on X “by removing it, permanently suspending accounts, and working with local governments and law enforcement as necessary”.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall mentioned it was very important that Ofcom full its investigation swiftly, as the general public, and most significantly the victims, wouldn’t settle for any delay.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy mentioned he had raised the state of affairs with United States Vice President JD Vance, who had, he claimed, agreed that it was totally unacceptable.
Downing Street has in the meantime indicated that it’s keen to take into account leaving X, previously generally known as Twitter, if Mr Musk’s firm doesn’t act.
Power to ban
Under Britain’s Online Safety Act, which entered drive in July, on-line platforms internet hosting doubtlessly dangerous content material are required to implement strict age verification by instruments equivalent to facial imagery or bank card checks.
It is unlawful for media websites to create or share non-consensual intimate pictures or youngster sexual abuse materials, together with sexual deepfakes created with synthetic intelligence (AI).
Ofcom has the facility to impose fines of 10 % of worldwide income for breaches of guidelines.
Asked on Monday whether or not X may very well be banned, Business Secretary Peter Kyle mentioned: “Yes, of course”. But he famous that the facility to achieve this lay with Ofcom.
Grok appeared to deflect the worldwide criticism with a brand new monetisation coverage on the finish of final week, posting on X that the software was now “limited to paying subscribers”.
Starmer condemned the transfer as an affront to victims and “not a solution”.
Musk has accused the UK authorities of being fascist and making an attempt to curb free speech.
Grok, developed by one other firm based by Musk referred to as xAI, launched a brand new superior picture era characteristic in July final yr.
But its use for creating nude deepfake pictures has turn out to be widespread over the previous few weeks, sparking condemnation all over the world.