Ofcom, the UK's online safety regulator, has initiated a formal investigation into X (formerly Twitter) to determine if the platform has adhered to UK laws. This action follows deeply concerning reports that X's AI chatbot, Grok, was allegedly used to create and disseminate sexualized images of children, and undressed images of individuals, which may constitute intimate image abuse or child sexual abuse material.
Ofcom urgently contacted X on January 5th, setting a deadline of January 9th for the company to explain the measures it has implemented to protect its UK users. After receiving a response and conducting an expedited assessment, Ofcom decided to open a formal investigation to ascertain whether X has violated its legal obligations under the Online Safety Act.
The regulator has been in communication with both X and xAI, the creator of Grok, regarding these image production concerns. In response to increased pressure from UK ministers, Elon Musk, who leads both xAI and X, has accused the UK Government of being "fascist" and attempting to suppress free speech.