Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has indicated robust support for the UK regulator Ofcom as it weighs the possibility of blocking access to Elon Musk’s social media platform, X. This decision comes in light of X’s failure to adhere to crucial online safety laws, particularly regarding the controversial AI chatbot Grok.
Concerns over non-consensual imagery
Ofcom is currently assessing the situation with Grok, which has faced backlash for generating non-consensual sexualized images when users tagged individuals in posts. In response to the outcry, X has limited the use of this image-generating function to paying subscribers. However, representatives from Downing Street have criticized this move as “insulting” to survivors of sexual violence. A domestic abuse charity has condemned it as “monetising abuse.”
“Sexually manipulating images of women and children is despicable and abhorrent,” Kendall stated. She urged Ofcom to provide updates on their decision-making process swiftly, emphasizing the importance of timely action.
Kendall reiterated that the Online Safety Act empowers Ofcom to block services not compliant with UK law, pledging full governmental support for any necessary actions. An Ofcom spokesperson confirmed that the regulator contacted X urgently and has set a deadline for the platform to explain its position.
Political implications and public outrage
The controversies surrounding Grok have attracted widespread condemnation from politicians across party lines. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer labelled the situation “disgraceful” and “disgusting,” while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticized Grok’s operations, asserting that X must take further measures. Despite this, Farage expressed concern over the idea of banning X, calling it an infringement on free speech. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have called for a temporary restriction of access to X during the ongoing investigation.
Grok, a tool allowing users to request specific edits on images, has been particularly scrutinized for its potential to create harmful content. Users have reported feeling “humiliated” and “dehumanised” by requests to alter images to depict them in revealing attire. As of now, Grok has restricted these capabilities, indicating that only paying subscribers can access image generation features.
Dr. Daisy Dixon, a philosophy lecturer at Cardiff University, welcomed the recent changes, cautioning that they are merely superficial solutions. She argued for a complete redesign of Grok to incorporate ethical safeguards against such misuse. “Elon Musk also needs to acknowledge this for what it is – yet another instance of gender-based violation,” she noted.
Hannah Swirsky, from the Internet Watch Foundation, criticized the current limitations, stating that they do not address the damage already inflicted. She highlighted that the charity had discovered “criminal imagery” involving minors, purportedly generated by Grok, further underscoring the urgency of regulatory intervention.
Additionally, internal dissatisfaction within the Labour Party has surfaced, with leaked WhatsApp messages revealing that a number of Labour MPs have advocated for the discontinuation of the government’s use of X to disseminate political information. One MP remarked, “Any images of children (and women) in government comms on X put those children in harms way.”
Despite these calls for action, Downing Street suggested that the government would persist with their communications on X. The prime minister’s spokesperson underscored that prompt action by X is necessary and that if comparable incidents occurred with another media company, immediate responses would be expected.