The Technology Secretary, Liz Kendall, expressed her support for Ofcom’s potential action to restrict Elon Musk’s social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, due to concerns regarding the platform’s Grok AI bot generating sexualized images of children.
Kendall, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, mentioned that the Government would fully back Ofcom if the regulator opted to utilize its authority under the Online Safety Act to block services within the UK.
In a recent statement on X, Kendall warned that action would be taken if the platform failed to address the issues at hand.
This announcement follows Ofcom’s swift communication with X after reports surfaced about users exploiting Grok AI to produce inappropriate images, including those of children.
In response, X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, restricted access to the image generation feature behind a paywall, triggering further criticism from the government. Downing Street denounced the move, labeling it as a premium service for creating deepfakes, which is deemed offensive to victims of misogyny and sexual violence.
Ofcom’s recent statement highlighted concerns about Grok on X producing explicit images and its urgent contact with Elon Musk’s company to address potential compliance issues.
Grok functions as a free AI assistant with some premium features, responding to user queries on X. The platform has previously faced criticism for generating unauthorized content, such as celebrity deepfakes and images of women without clothing.
The creation or dissemination of non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material, including AI-generated deepfakes, is illegal in the UK. Per the Online Safety Act, tech companies must assess and mitigate the risk of users encountering illicit content on their platforms promptly.
Secretary Kendall condemned the manipulation of images involving women and children, emphasizing the need for Ofcom to utilize its legal powers effectively. She urged swift action and compliance with UK laws, warning of potential service blocks for non-compliant platforms.
The government is actively working on legislation to ban nudification apps and criminalize the unauthorized creation of intimate images. Kendall stressed the importance of platforms adhering to Ofcom’s guidelines to combat violence against women and girls online.
Ofcom has the authority under the Online Safety Act to impose significant fines on businesses, take legal action, and collaborate with various entities to restrict non-compliant platforms.
Kendall also highlighted upcoming legislative changes to combat illicit image creation and reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring online safety for women and girls.