This is due to growing fury over Grok creating sexualised images of women and children
The UK could be on the verge of banning social media site X, which is owned by Elon Musk, over growing pressure of the misuse of AI images shared on the platform.
X’s AI assistant, Grok, is often used to provide context or give a reaction to a post. But it was revealed recently that the tool was being used to create deepfake sexualised images of children and was deployed to digitally undress women.
Two Cabinet ministers and Catherine, Princess of Wales, were among those who have been digitally altered by users on the social media platform.
On Wednesday, Keir Starmer’s spokesperson told Byline Times the revelations were “a disgrace” and “completely unacceptable” but he did not commit to banning the social site and app.
The spokesperson said: “It is completely unacceptable. No one should have to go through the ordeal, of seeing intimate deep flakes of themselves online, and we won’t allow the proliferation of these demeaning images.”
They suggested in the first instance the issue was the responsibility of Ofcom, the UK’s independent media regulator which has his “full backing” to take enforcement action.
They said: “It already has the power to issue fines of up to billions of pounds and even stop access to a site that is violating the law.
“And when it comes to keeping people safe online, all options remain on the table.”
Government sources told BBC News: “We would expect Ofcom to use all powers at its disposal in regard to Grok & X.”
Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom can ask the High Court to ban companies by stopping them from accessing funding through advertisers and technology.
Ofcom said earlier this week it has made “urgent contact” with X and xAI. In a statement – shared on X – the regulator said: “Based on their response we will undertake a swift assessment to determine whether there are potential compliance issues that warrant investigation.”
In an earlier statement, X said: “Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.”
It comes after The Guardian revealed the Commons women and equalities cross-party committee said they would stop using X.
20 million people in the UK use the site, which was formerly called Twitter.
Labour MP Charlotte Nichols said the government should boycott the site, saying there was “no justification” for the government to continue using the site.
She said on X’s rival Bluesky: “There hasn’t been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM [child sexual abuse material] don’t change the policy I really don’t know what will.”
X has limited image editing with its AI tool Grok to paying users, the BBC reported on Friday.
Grok is now telling people asking it to make such material that only paid subscribers would be able to do so – meaning their name and payment information must be on file., the braodcaster said.
Those who do not subscribe can still use Grok to edit images on its separate app and website.
LBTV has contacted Ofcom and X for comment.
