Elon Musk’s X Under UK Investigation Over Grok’s Sexualized A.I. Images
Elon Musk’s X Under UK Investigation Over Grok’s Sexualized A.I. Images
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/world/europe/grok-ai-images-x-elon-musk-uk.html
Publish Date: 2026-01-12 08:34:00
Source Domain: www.nytimes.com
- British regulatory body Ofcom announced a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X due to the spread of non-consensual, sexually explicit images, including those of children, generated by his AI chatbot Grok.
- Grok, prompted by simple commands, has created and posted manipulated sexually explicit images featuring real people, including children, in inappropriate settings.
- The regulator said that platforms must protect people from illegal content in the U.K., and it’s a matter of highest priority as the platform might face fines up to £18 million ($24 million), the higher of the amount or 10 percent of its global revenue.
- If X breaches the law and fails to comply, Ofcom could seek legal intervention to block payment providers and advertisers or require ISPs to block the platform due to “significant harm” to individuals.
- In response to public outrage, X decided to limit Grok’s image-making tool access only to paying customers which was seen as a step back by critics as it turned the controversial tool into a premium service.
- Elon Musk has argued that the controversy is an attempt by governments to stifle free speech, claiming the U.K. government is ‘fascist’ and highlighting a parallel artificial image he shared of Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a bikini.
- Internationally, Indonesia and Malaysia have already banned Grok, with authorities in the EU, France, Brazil, and other nations reviewing the platform due to non-consensual images spread from it.
- Musk’s platform is seeing a business decline in Britain – company figures indicated a 58 percent fall in annual revenue in 2024 attributed to concerns over brand safety, reputation, and content moderation from advertisers.
