UK Grok ban live: X under formal Ofcom investigation over ‘deeply concerning’ deepfakes row

The Internet Watch Foundation has called for the government to bring in the ‘nudification’ tools ban as soon as possible , which would make it illegal to create and supply AI tools that allows users to digitally remove someone’s clothing.

The internet safety organisation said it was also important that the government ensured the ban covered tools such as those enabled by Grok.

Speaking on X’s deepfake row, a spokesperson told The Independent: “From our perspective, this issue highlights the urgent need for AI regulation in the UK.

“Tech companies need to make sure that they are not facilitating the generation of child sexual abuse imagery and should be forced to make sure the products they build and make available to the global public are safe by design.”

Ofcom has launched an investigation into X to establish whether X has failed to comply with its legal obligations under the Online Safety Act.

The independent regulator’s announcement follows “deeply concerning” images of Grok, the platform’s AI, being used to create sexually explicit content of women and children.

An Ofcom spokesperson said: “Reports of Grok being used to create and share illegal non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material on X have been deeply concerning.

“Platforms must protect people in the UK from content that’s illegal in the UK, and we won’t hesitate to investigate where we suspect companies are failing in their duties, especially where there’s a risk of harm to children.

“We’ll progress this investigation as a matter of the highest priority, while ensuring we follow due process. As the UK’s independent online safety enforcement agency, it’s important we make sure our investigations are legally robust and fairly decided.”

Elon Musk’s social media platform X is facing an potential ban in the UK as Ofcom launches a formal investigation over whether it has failed to comply with UK law.

The service has faced criticism in recent weeks after declining to fully remove the ability for users to sexually manipulate images of women and children using its built-in AI tool, Grok. X has instead limited the use of this image function to those who pay a monthly fee.

The Independent’s Albert Toth reports:

The Independent’s Athena Stavrou reports:

Downing Street has welcomed Ofcom’s formal investigation into X and said the watchdog has “our full support to take any action it sees fit”.

The prime minister’s spokesperson said the technology secretary Liz Kendall will update the Commons later today, and added: “We’ve been clear the content created by Grok in certain circumstances is utterly vile, it s not just an affront to decent society its unlawful… and we won’t hesitate to go further to protect children online and strengthen the law as needed.”

No 10 reiterated that Ofcom has the power to effectively ban services if they refuse to uphold UK law.

When asked if the threats to ban Elon Musk’s social media platform amounted to an attack on free speech, they said: “I don’t accept that at all. Our position on free speech is clear. You had the pm discuss this directly with the president in the oval office in February.

“We’re fully committed to the right to free speech”

Downing Street has suggested it is open to a ban on X if the social media giant fails to act on concerns, with a spokesperson saying “all options are on the table”.

Asked whether the Government would leave X, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “Our focus today and over the last week has been fully on protecting children and ensuring this vile content is taken down immediately.

“That is our full focus.

“We are keeping our participation under review, as you would expect, and you will hear more from the Technology Secretary this afternoon.”

He added: “I think we’ve been clear that all options are on the table.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said banning Elon Musk’s X was “the wrong answer” and believed the issue of image generation could be dealt with in a “sensible fashion”.

Speaking before Ofcom announced it was launching a formal investigation into the social media platform, Mrs Badenoch said: “I think banning X is the wrong answer. I’m not even sure what question it is that they’re answering.

“What we are seeing is a Labour Government that did not have a plan, and they’re just throwing out random policies, probably to distract from the fact that they’re putting businesses in a very difficult position.

“What was happening was the business rates discussion, lots of pubs complaining, and then all of a sudden, Labour talks about banning X. I don’t think that’s a serious solution.”

Asked by LBC if she would be staying on X, she said: “I’m very concerned about the image generation, but I think that this is something that can be dealt with in a sensible fashion.

“X is a platform where lots of people put out views that are useful for politicians to hear. We should not be running away from views that we don’t like.”

Communities secretary Steve Reed has threatened Elon Musk with a ban on X over anti-Semitism online.

He said the social media platform must remove “abhorrent images that could have come from the Third Reich”, The Telegraph reported, and that the government was ready to introduce legislation to prevent the platform from “profiting” from online anti-Semitism.

His comments are the latest warning to the social media giant, which has already faced threats of a ban from the government over the platform’s deepfake row.

Nadhim Zahawi has said that attacking X over its politics is a “dangerous place to be”, as the former Tory chancellor condemned a ban of the social media platform.

Mr Zahawi, who announced his defection to Reform UK on Monday, said: “What happened with Grok you could do in powerpoint.

“Technology is moving fast but what you don’t do is take a heavy handed approach and start banning things….When you start attacking a business just because you don’t agree with the owners politics or stance I think that’s a dangerous place to be.”

Liz Kendall said Ofcom must complete its investigation “swiftly” because “the public and most importantly the victims – will not accept any delay”.

In a statement on Monday, the technology secretary said: “I welcome Ofcom’s urgency in launching a formal investigation today.

“It is vital that Ofcom complete this investigation swiftly because the public – and most importantly the victims – will not accept any delay.

“The content created and shared using Grok in recent days has been deeply disturbing and I will be updating Parliament later today on the Government’s response.”

Ofcom said it would provide an update on the investigation as soon as possible.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has expressed fears that censoring Grok, X’s AI, could “further suppress free speech”.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Farage said: “Nothing from the current set of regulators and government would surprise me when it came to free speech.

“Lets talk to Grok, they’ve already made 1 or 2 steps in our direction. Our fear is we’ll suppress Grok, and further suppress free speech and we don’t want to do that.”