Police have been called upon to investigate Elon Musk and X following a surge of sexualized deepfakes circulating on the social media platform. Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has advocated for a criminal inquiry into the matter. During a recent press conference, he emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into Elon Musk and his platform, asserting that their party is taking the issue more seriously than others.
The UK’s Online Safety Act empowers Ofcom to penalize, disrupt, or disable access to social media platforms that do not adhere to stringent regulations, particularly those related to safeguarding children online. Ofcom is presently conducting an investigation in this regard.
In the midst of these developments, Sir Ed hinted at the possibility of reconsidering the party’s association with X, reflecting upon the ongoing criticisms directed towards Mr. Musk. He expressed the intricate balance involved in this decision, emphasizing the importance of a robust Liberal voice within X.
Sir Ed further stressed the party’s stance on the situation, advocating for the suspension of X while Ofcom conducts its inquiry into the platform. He highlighted the necessity of halting access to X during such a critical investigation.
Recently, Ofcom launched a formal investigation into X, formerly known as Twitter, under the auspices of the Online Safety Act. This probe aims to ascertain whether X has violated its legal obligations, potentially resulting in fines up to £18 million or 10% of its global revenue, along with other disruptive measures.
In related developments, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall condemned the creation of non-consensual intimate images by X’s AI chatbot Grok as “weapons of abuse.” She announced the imminent enactment of a law that criminalizes the production and dissemination of non-consensual intimate images, targeting apps enabling the creation of fake nude images.
Ms. Kendall emphasized the devastating impact of such content, particularly on women and girls, categorizing these images as tools of abuse that violate individuals’ dignity and well-being.
Additionally, Ms. Kendall affirmed the Government’s commitment to reassess its engagement with X, following calls for the Labour Party to discontinue its use of the platform.
Ofcom recently raised concerns regarding sexualized images generated by Grok, prompting an urgent inquiry into X and xAI. The regulator highlighted the importance of protecting individuals, especially children, from harmful content, indicating a swift and thorough investigation into the matter.
Furthermore, the Internet Watch Foundation revealed the discovery of illicit imagery involving children allegedly produced using Grok. X acknowledged deficiencies in its safeguards and pledged to rectify the issues promptly.
Elon Musk reiterated that individuals engaging in illicit content creation via Grok will face severe consequences, and X announced a shift towards making deepfake creation a paid service. This move was criticized by officials as insensitive to victims of abuse and monetizing exploitative practices.