Ofcom to investigate Musk’s Grok over ‘deeply disturbing’ nude images
Media watchdog Ofcom has launched an investigation into whether Elon Musk’s social media platform
Deepfake, sexualized images of children and adults created by Grok were “deeply disturbing”, Technology Minister Liz Kendall said before taking up the issue in Parliament on Monday.
Meanwhile, Downing Street has indicated that Mr Musk may consider leaving X, formerly known as Twitter, if his company does not take action.
Developed by another company called xAI, founded by Mr. Musk, Grok launched a new advanced rendering feature in July last year.
But its use to create nude deepfake images has become widespread in the past few weeks, prompting condemnation from the Government and an Ofcom investigation.
In a statement, Ofcom said it would investigate the platform to determine whether it “complies with its duties to protect people in the UK from illegal content”.
This came after the regulator made “urgent contact” with X on January 5, asking it to explain what steps it would take to protect users in the UK and set a “firm deadline” of January 9, which X said it had met.
The decision to launch the formal investigation was made after Ofcom reviewed the available evidence “on a matter of urgency”.
The regulator said: “There are deeply worrying reports that the Grok AI chatbot account on
The inquiry was welcomed by Technology Minister Liz Kendall, who will give more details about the Government’s response in the House of Commons later on Monday.
Ms Kendall said: “I welcome Ofcom’s urgency in launching a formal investigation today.
“It is vital that Ofcom completes this investigation quickly because the public, and most importantly the victims, will not accept any delay.
“Content created and shared using Grok in recent days was deeply disturbing and I will be updating Parliament today with the Government’s response.”
The use of Grok to create sexually explicit content has sparked a wave of concern among ministers who backed the UK’s ban if Ofcom decides to block access to the platform.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle, who previously served as technology secretary, said Sky News X was “not doing enough to keep its customers safe online”.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said he had conveyed the “horrible, appalling situation” to US vice-president JD Vance, who agreed it was “completely unacceptable”.
Meanwhile, No 10 has suggested the Government is open to leaving X if the company does not tighten the way it uses Grok.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the Government’s focus was “protecting children” but kept its presence in X “under review”, adding: “I think we’ve been clear that all options are on the table.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she believed banning X was the “wrong answer”.
Speaking before the inquiry was launched, he added: “What we are seeing is a Labor Government without a plan and they are probably implementing random policies to distract from the fact that they are putting businesses in a very difficult position.”
In response to the ministers’ threats, Mr Musk accused the UK Government of being “fascist” and trying to stifle free speech.
Responding to a post on
UK Reform Leader Nigel Farage also expressed fears the Government would “suppress freedom of expression”.
Speaking at a press conference in central London, Mr Farage also said: “Do we like and welcome this aspect of Grok that made news over the weekend? No.”
