UK investigates Musk's X over Grok deepfake concerns
- - UK investigates Musk's X over Grok deepfake concerns
By Sam Tabahriti and Paul SandleJanuary 12, 2026 at 10:07 PM
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FILE PHOTO: xAI and Grok logos are seen in this illustration taken, February 16, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
By Sam Tabahriti and Paul Sandle
LONDON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Britain's media regulator launched an investigation into Elon Musk's X on Monday over concerns its Grok AI chatbot was creating sexually intimate deepfake images in violation of its duty to protect people in the UK from illegal content.
The Ofcom probe piles additional pressure on the social media platform of the world's richest man, which is already facing a growing public outcry as well as criminal and regulatory probes around the world, from France to India.
"Reports of Grok being used to create and share illegal non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material on X have been deeply concerning," it said in a statement.
Platforms must protect people in Britain from illegal content, the regulator said, adding that it would not "hesitate to investigate where we suspect companies are failing in their duties, especially where there's a risk of harm to children."
When asked on Monday about the investigation, X pointed to a previous statement in which it said it takes action against illegal content on the platform, including child sexual abuse material, by removing it, permanently suspending accounts, and working with local governments and law enforcement as necessary.
"Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content," it said.
STARMER: GROK IMAGES ARE 'DISGUSTING', 'UNLAWFUL'
The regulator is under pressure to act after Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday called the images produced by Grok "disgusting" and "unlawful".
Musk's X had to "get a grip" on Grok, he said.
Following initial action against porn sites that did not have effective age checks, the Grok case will likely be the first big test of Britain's online safety law, which was enacted in 2023 but is being implemented in stages by Ofcom.
Asked on Monday whether X could be banned, Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: "Yes, of course," but he noted that the power to do so lay with Ofcom.
Musk wrote on X on Saturday that, in focusing on Grok and X, Britain's government "just want to suppress free speech".
A spokesperson for Starmer rejected that claim, saying the government was concerned about child sexual abuse imagery and violence against women and girls.
"It is wrong, it is unlawful and we are not going to tolerate it," the spokesperson said.
Tech minister Liz Kendall welcomed Ofcom's formal investigation, adding that it must be completed swiftly.
Creating or sharing non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material, including AI-generated sexual imagery, is illegal in Britain.
Additionally, tech platforms must prevent British users from encountering illegal content and remove it once they become aware of it.
X has faced condemnation in other countries over the feature, which can produce images of women and minors in skimpy clothing.
French officials have reported X to prosecutors and regulators, calling the content "manifestly illegal", while Indian authorities have also demanded explanations. Indonesia and Malaysia temporarily blocked Grok over the weekend.
X said it has restricted requests to undress people in images to paying users.
Ofcom will investigate whether X failed to assess the risk that people in Britain would see illegal content, and whether it considered the risk to children.
In the most serious cases of non-compliance it could ask a court to require "payment providers or advertisers to withdraw their services from a platform", or make internet service providers block access to a site in Britain.
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Paul Sandle; Editing by Kate Holton, Sharon Singleton and Joe Bavier)
Source: “AOL Breaking”
