Elon Musk has stated that critics of his social media site X are looking for any excuse for censorship after the platform's AI chatbot Grok faced backlash for generating sexualized images without the consent of those depicted.
The UK's regulatory body, Ofcom, revealed it is conducting an urgent assessment of X following these allegations. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has backed Ofcom’s investigation.
Concerns about gaps in the Online Safety Act have also emerged, with parliamentary leaders expressing worry over its effectiveness in addressing the issues presented by Grok’s features. In response to the controversy, X has restricted access to its AI image generation tools, allowing only paying subscribers to utilize these functions, a decision criticized by the government as insulting to victims of sexual violence.
The BBC reported several cases of Grok generating explicit content, leading to heightened scrutiny from UK officials. Secretary Kendall stated she expects updates from Ofcom soon, emphasizing government support if it decides to block X in the UK.
Musk has actively defended his platform against criticism. He reposted several messages highlighting the government's reproach of Grok, including a post featuring AI-generated images of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in an unflattering context. Musk's stance is that critics are attempting to suppress free speech.
Ashley St Clair, an influencer and Musk’s child’s mother, shared her alarming experience with Grok which generated sexualized images of her from her childhood. St Clair criticized X for inadequate responses to illegal content on their platform and called for immediate action from the technical teams.
As of Friday, Grok has been telling users that access to its image editing features now requires a subscription, signalling a shift in how X is handling their AI capabilities amidst the backlash.
Ofcom has communicated directly with X, demanding clarifications and outlining the urgency of their assessment process. Depending on compliance, they may have the authority to enforce significant restrictions on the platform within the UK.
Alongside UK sentiments, other global leaders, such as Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, echoed similar concerns regarding social media's responsibility towards content regulation. Indonesia has also temporarily suspended Grok, citing concerns over human rights abuses associated with non-consensual digital imagery.
