Ofcom opens an investigation under the OSA into Grok over the sexualized deepfakes of women and kids being generated on X and threatens X with a ban or a fine

Media regulator threatens chatbot with ban or multimillion-pound fine — Ofcom, Britain's media regulator …

Financial Times 2026-01-12

Discussion

@ofcom @ofcom on x
🧵 We've opened a formal investigation into X under the Online Safety Act, to determine whether it has complied with its duties to protect people in the UK from illegal content. ⬇️ 🔗 https://www.ofcom.org.uk/... [image]
@goodlawproject.org Jolyon Maugham KC on bluesky
We are pleased to see this from Ofcom www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet.... However, it appears to have a main or exclusive focus on CSAM and there is a wide variety of other illegal content which X, in breach of its duties under the Online Safety Act, has failed to remove.
@jamesdaustin James Austin on bluesky
There is nothing wrong per se with Ofcom's statement here - they're following the process they have to as soon as possible - but it does show how slow and bureaucratic state processes are compared to how the internet moves. — Makes it a far less effective regulator
@wanderinggaia Gaia Vince on bluesky
Clearly illegal, so should be immediately shut down (as any other publication would be) while Ofcom launches its investigation...
@mattburgess1 Matt Burgess on bluesky
UK communications regulator has announced it's opening an official investigation into X over non-consensual imagery. This follows it getting in touch with X last week. — It's investigating on a host of grounds: from whether X has done proper risk assessments to failing to take…
@mattburgess1 Matt Burgess on bluesky
Now two countries have blocked Grok over the ability to create non-consensual intimate images: Malaysia and Indonesia
@lewis_goodall Lewis Goodall on x
NEW: @Ofcom has launches a formal investigation into X over the use of the Grok to manipulate images of women and remove their clothes. “We have decided to open a formal investigation to establish whether X has failed to comply with its legal obligations under the Online Safety
r/TheMajorityReport r on reddit
Malaysia, Indonesia become first to block Musk's Grok over sexually explicit AI images, including involving children
@annmemmott Ann Memmott on bluesky
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet... Good. Let's hope it goes somewhere and doesn't fade to nothing after any, er, persuasion from very very rich people...
r/worldnews r on reddit
Grok AI: Malaysia and Indonesia block X chatbot over sexually explicit deepfakes
@goodlawproject @goodlawproject on bluesky
Great to see Ofcom launch a formal investigation into X. It's crucial this doesn't stop at AI imagery, it must also cover the vast amount of other illegal content X isn't removing under the Online Safety Act — https://tinyurl.com/mr2syd99
r/WomenInNews r on reddit
UK threatens action against X over sexualised AI images of women and children
@prestonjbyrne Preston Byrne on x
Ofcom will, assuming it follows the template of prior investigations, have sent X a letter warning it of that investigation, threatening X's senior managers with arrest if they refuse to comply, and demanding X produce information without first getting a warrant.
@rmac Ryan Mac on bluesky
Musk has many supporters who see him as the protector of “free speech.” He's done a lot of personal branding to that effect. But I suspect some of them would be uncomfortable with “free speech” encompassing the ability to create & share nonconsensual sexual material. — www.ny…
r/grok r on reddit
Ofcom investigates Elon Musk's X over Grok AI sexual deepfakes
@0x0.boo @0x0.boo on bluesky
Also, I just received an email update from Ofcom about their X investigation — Here it is 👇
@trulsgulowsen Truls Gulowsen on bluesky
Indonesia, Malaysia, UK, France and others have banned or considered banning X - makes it even stranger for some governments (and media) to maintain it as public information channel — apnews.com/article/grok...
@ednewtonrex Ed Newton-Rex on x
I had pretty much lost faith in the UK government's ability to regulate AI fairly, after they proposed handing creatives' work to AI companies for free. But there are new ministers working on tech & AI, and their response to the Grok debacle has been superb. Increasingly
@scitechgovuk @scitechgovuk on x
“No woman or child should live in fear of having their image sexually manipulated by technology” Secretary of State @leicesterliz updates on the government's response to non-consensual sexual deepfakes on social media 🔽 [video]
@clareblackwood Clare Blackwood on bluesky
Every single country should follow suit and pull their government officials and accounts from the platform until Grok's ability to do this shit is disabled. www.bbc.com/news/article...
@lizrenzetti Liz Renzetti on bluesky
The UK's broadcast regulator is investigating X for its CSAM, and the government will “make it illegal for companies to supply the tools designed to create such images.” — Meanwhile in Canada ....🦗 — bbc.com/news/article...
@senthorun Senthorun S. Raj on bluesky
“The UK will bring into force a law which will make it illegal to create non-consensual intimate images...” — X is a platform that facilitates harassment of women, racial minorities, LGBT people, disabled folk and other marginalised groups. The sexually abusive content is just…
@brunodias Bruno Dias on bluesky
This suggests that no, there's not going to be a ban. Rather than acting against a malicious actor with money they're going to legislate in some way that allows the malicious actor to keep operating. — www.bbc.com/news/article...
@veramoreijn Vera Moreijn on bluesky
Mooi! Regering VK was hierover in gesprek met Canada en Australië, hopelijk volgen die ook. En EU, kom op, aan het werk! — www.bbc.com/news/article...
r/technology r on reddit
UK to bring into force law to tackle Grok AI deepfakes this week
r/technology r on reddit
The UK's independent online safety watchdog (Ofcom) launches investigation into X over Grok sexualised imagery
r/grok r on reddit
how do you guys feel about this?

Chronicles

Ofcom opens an investigation under the OSA into Grok over the sexualized deepfakes of women and kids being generated on X and threatens X with a ban or a fine

Related Coverage

Discussion