Police are under pressure to launch an investigation into Elon Musk and X following a surge in sexually explicit deepfake content on the social media platform. Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has called for a criminal inquiry into the matter, emphasizing the need for serious action.
The UK’s Online Safety Act empowers Ofcom to penalize, disrupt, or shut down social media platforms that do not adhere to stringent regulations, especially those related to safeguarding children online. Ofcom is currently conducting an investigation into the situation.
Meanwhile, Sir Ed hinted at the possibility of his party reconsidering their association with X, considering the gravity of the issue and their strong stance against Musk. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong Liberal voice on the platform.
Sir Ed further asserted that his party’s position is firm in demanding the suspension of X while Ofcom investigates the platform. He stressed that access to X should be restricted during such a critical investigation.
Ofcom recently initiated a formal probe into X to determine if the platform has violated its legal obligations under the Online Safety Act. Possible penalties for non-compliance include fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue, along with other disruptive measures.
In related developments, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall labeled images generated by X’s AI chatbot Grok as “weapons of abuse.” She announced the imminent enforcement of a law criminalizing the creation or distribution of non-consensual intimate images to combat such harmful content.
Ms. Kendall also highlighted the impending criminalization of apps allowing the creation of fake nude images under the Crime and Policing Bill. The new legislation aims to target the root cause of the issue by prohibiting the supply of tools for generating non-consensual online images.
Ms. Kendall condemned the dissemination of harmful images, emphasizing that such content constitutes abuse and disproportionately targets women and girls. She underlined the serious legal ramifications associated with these actions.
The Government will reassess its involvement with X following calls for the Labour party to disengage from the platform. Ofcom recently raised concerns about X and xAI’s AI tool, Grok, allegedly producing sexualized images of minors, prompting an urgent investigation into the matter.
Ofcom reaffirmed its commitment to protecting UK residents from illegal content and prioritizing investigations where harm, especially to children, is suspected. The Internet Watch Foundation reported the discovery of criminal imagery, potentially related to Grok, depicting underage individuals.
In response to the controversy, X acknowledged security lapses and pledged to rectify them promptly, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal content. Elon Musk stated that individuals engaging in illegal activities using Grok would face consequences akin to uploading illicit content.
Notably, X announced that creating deepfakes via Grok would become a premium service requiring payment. This move was criticized by authorities as insensitive to victims of abuse and monetizing harmful actions.
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