UK Watchdog Probes X Over AI-Generated Explicit Images

The UK's media regulator, Ofcom, is now looking into Elon Musk's social media platform, X, due to worries about its AI chatbot, Grok. Reports suggest that Grok is being used to make and share explicit images of people without their permission. This includes undressed images of adults and even sexualized images of children. If X is found to have broken the law, Ofcom could hit them with a fine. The fine could be as much as 10% of X's global revenue or £18 million, whichever is bigger. The BBC reached out to X for a comment, but Elon Musk has previously said that the UK government is looking for reasons to censor content. Examples of these digitally altered images have been seen by the BBC. In these images, women are undressed and placed in sexual positions without their consent. One woman reported that over 100 explicit images of her have been created and shared online. Ofcom is also looking into whether X has been quick enough to remove illegal content once they become aware of it. They are checking if X has taken the right steps to stop people in the UK from seeing this content. This includes non-consensual intimate images and child sexual imagery.The investigation comes after a global backlash against Grok's image creation feature. Both Malaysia and Indonesia have temporarily blocked access to the tool. Ofcom has not said how long the investigation will take, but they have said it is a top priority. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has welcomed the investigation and urged Ofcom to wrap it up quickly. She said that the public, and especially the victims, will not accept any delays. Her predecessor, Peter Kyle, called it appalling that Grok had not been properly tested before being released. Kyle shared a disturbing example of a Jewish woman who found her image, originally in a bikini outside Auschwitz, had been altered by AI and shared online. This kind of misuse of AI technology is causing serious concern. Ofcom has made it clear that platforms must protect people in the UK from illegal content. They won't hesitate to investigate if they suspect a company is not doing enough, especially when there's a risk of harm to children.