Ofcom has initiated a formal inquiry into Elon Musk’s X due to concerns regarding sexualized deepfake images generated by its AI chatbot tool. The UK media regulator aims to determine if the social media platform has breached the Online Safety Act, with potential penalties of up to £18 million or 10% of its global revenue.
In addition to financial sanctions, Ofcom can enforce actions like compelling payment providers or advertisers to cease services on the platform. The regulator has emphasized the investigation’s high priority status.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has lauded the investigation’s commencement and urged Ofcom to expedite the process. She plans to update Members of Parliament on the government’s response later today.
Ofcom recently raised alarms after discovering troubling instances of child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate images on X involving Grok, an AI chatbot developed by xAI.
Ofcom spokesperson expressed deep concern over reports of illegal content creation and sharing on X, stressing the platform’s obligation to protect UK users from unlawful material, especially when children are at risk.
The mounting outrage over explicit deepfake content on Musk’s X platform has prompted government action. Business Secretary Peter Kyle, formerly Tech Secretary, acknowledged the need for enhanced online safety measures, particularly on X, highlighting the platform’s inadequacies in ensuring customer safety.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy mentioned discussions with US vice president JD Vance regarding measures to address problematic content generated by Grok. However, criticism arose when Donald Trump’s free speech representative likened UK actions to those of Russia’s Putin.
Efforts to combat Grok-generated illicit content have intensified, with discussions of potential bans resembling Russia’s approach. Concerns have also been raised about the creation and dissemination of inappropriate imagery involving minors.
Grok’s X account acknowledged security lapses and vowed to address them promptly, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal content. Plans to introduce deepfake creation as a premium service were criticized by officials as monetizing abusive practices.
In conclusion, the investigation into X’s handling of deepfake content underscores the importance of online safety enforcement in the digital age.