The Technology Secretary, Liz Kendall, expressed support for Ofcom’s potential action to block Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. This decision follows concerns raised about the platform’s Grok AI bot generating sexualized images, including those of children.
In response, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology affirmed that the Government would fully back Ofcom if it decided to utilize its authority under the Online Safety Act to prevent access to certain services in the UK.
Following urgent communication with X, Ofcom initiated discussions with Elon Musk’s company in response to reports of users exploiting the Grok AI to create inappropriate images. Musk’s company reportedly restricted access to the image generation feature behind a paywall, drawing criticism from the government for turning deepfake creation into a premium service.
Ofcom recently addressed concerns regarding Grok’s creation of inappropriate images, emphasizing the need for swift action and updates. Under UK law, the creation and dissemination of non-consensual intimate or illicit images, especially those involving children, are prohibited, with potential legal consequences for offenders.
Tech companies are required under the Online Safety Act to assess and mitigate the risk of users encountering illegal content on their platforms promptly. Failure to comply may lead to regulatory measures, including service blocking within the UK.
Secretary Liz Kendall condemned the offensive use of AI to manipulate images and emphasized the need for immediate action from Ofcom. She highlighted upcoming legislative changes to combat this issue and ensure the safety of individuals online, particularly women and children.
Ofcom holds the authority to impose fines on businesses for violations under the Online Safety Act, with the ability to take legal action if necessary. Additionally, it can collaborate with payment providers, advertisers, and internet service providers to restrict services deemed non-compliant, subject to court approval.