Ofcom has launched an investigation into Elon Musk’s X over concerns its AI tool Grok is being used to create sexualised images.
In a statement, the UK watchdog said there had been “deeply concerning reports” of the chatbot being used to create and share undressed images of people, as well as “sexualised images of children”.
If found to have broken the law, Ofcom can potentially issue X with a fine of up to 10% of its worldwide revenue or £18 million, whichever is greater.
The BBC has approached X for comment. Elon Musk previously said the UK government “want any excuse for censorship” in response to a post questioning why other AI platforms were not being looked at.
On Monday Ofcom said it had “urgently made contact” with X to assess what steps it had taken to comply with UK online safety laws.
It added the social media platform responded on Friday, and an “expedited assessment of available evidence” was then carried out.
Ofcom will now examine whether X has failed to take down illegal content quickly when it became aware of it, and taken “appropriate steps” to prevent people in the UK from seeing it.
It said such illegal content included “non-consensual intimate images” and child sexual imagery.
The decision follows global backlash over Grok’s image creation feature.