Name: UK investigates Grok: Probe launched over controversial deepfakes
Uploaded: 2026-01-13T23:50:50.885Z
Duration: 2 min 4 s
Description: The UK media watchdog Ofcom has launched an investigation into social media platform X. It follows reports that X’s chatbot, Grok, was used to create and share explicit images, without any consent. If found to be in breach, Ofcom could fine X up to 24 million dollars.

The UK media watchdog Ofcom has launched an investigation into social media platform X. It follows reports that X’s chatbot, Grok, was used to create and share explicit images, without any consent. If found to be in breach, Ofcom could fine X up to 24 million dollars.

London

Britain's media regulator Ofcom has opened an investigation into Grok, an artificial intelligence tool integrated into the social media platform X, after reports that it was used to create indecent deepfake images. The probe follows complaints from women in the UK who said their photos were manipulated without consent, as well as allegations of sexualized images of children.

In response to mounting criticism, X has restricted Grok's ability to edit and publish images in replies, limiting this function to paying subscribers. Other countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia, have blocked access to Grok, while the UK is planning legislation to address the creation of indecent deepfakes.

UK investigates Grok: Probe launched over controversial deepfakes

It was billed as a maximum truth-seeking artificial intelligence. When Grok launched, owner Elon Musk described it as a tool that will answer controversial questions other chatbots might reject. But it's gone much further. Numerous women in the UK say photos they shared online were turned into indecent images using Grok, their clothes digitally removed without consent. There are also reports the tool was used to generate sexualized images of children. This has prompted Britain's media regulator Ofcom to open an investigation into X, where Grok is built in. Lives can and have been devastated by this content, which is designed to harass, torment and violate people's dignity. Musk said the UK wants to suppress free speech. But after mounting criticism, X did limit the tool. Chatbots can no longer prompt Grok to edit and publish images in replies on X unless they are paying subscribers. They can, however, still manipulate pictures via the Grok tab on X and upload the results themselves. It's very easy to alter an image using Grok. I've taken a photo from social media of my colleague with her consent. It's just a headshot. So let's try to use Grok to turn it into a full-length photo of her travelling on a train on a warm day. I'll put in a short text prompt, click edit image, wait a few seconds, and there it is. Unlike tools like Photoshop, this takes no technical skill whatsoever. Other AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini use similar technology as Grok, but have guardrails against creating indecent images of people. And while the UK plans to bring into effect a law against creating indecent deepfakes, Indonesia and Malaysia have already blocked access to Grok for now. But for those already affected, the harm is real. And the question is, can regulation put an end to it? Milena Vasiljanovic, Al Jazeera, London.

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