No. 10 has rejected the response from Elon Musk’s company, X, regarding the scandal involving sexual images, calling it disrespectful to victims of misogyny and sexual violence. The billionaire’s social media platform has announced that its AI chatbot, Grok, will offer a “premium service” for creating deepfakes. However, the Government has criticized this move, emphasizing that it is inadequate and demanding X to take stronger actions, warning Musk that all possibilities are being considered to address the disturbing abuse.
Despite calls to do so, No. 10 has not committed to ceasing the use of the platform. Grok has faced criticism for enabling users to produce fake nude images of individuals, including minors, without consent.
A spokesperson for Keir Starmer stated, “Turning an AI feature that facilitates the creation of unlawful images into a premium service is not a solution. It is, in fact, a disregard for the victims of misogyny and sexual violence. This action demonstrates that X can act promptly when necessary.”
The spokesperson added, “As the Prime Minister emphasized, X must act immediately to address this issue. It is time for X to take control. If any other media company displayed unlawful images on billboards in town centers, they would swiftly remove them or face public outrage.”
“We must prevent the creation of these illegal and repugnant images on Grok. Therefore, our focus will be on taking action to prevent this,” the spokesperson continued.
Earlier reports revealed that the Labour Party is contemplating discontinuing the use of X. Party chairwoman Anna Turley mentioned ongoing discussions following the Prime Minister’s condemnation of the platform’s behavior as abhorrent.
When asked about potentially abandoning the platform, Ms. Turley commented, “Discussions are ongoing because ensuring a safe environment is crucial. However, the primary focus is on X rectifying the situation. The Prime Minister has been unequivocal in denouncing this behavior.” She also shared, “I have reflected on this extensively in recent months.”
Ms. Turley highlighted that the Government is collaborating with the regulator Ofcom to address the misuse of AI technology.
Ofcom recently reached out to Musk’s X and xAI due to concerns about Grok generating sexualized images of children on the platform. Ofcom acknowledged a feature on Grok developed by xAI that creates nude images of individuals and sexualized images of minors.
Following these developments, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall instructed Musk’s social media company to address the issue urgently, giving full support to Ofcom to take any necessary enforcement measures against X or xAI. She emphasized, “The UK will not tolerate the continuous spread of vile and abusive content online. We must unite to eradicate it.”
Users on X seemingly prompted Grok, integrated within the platform, to create images of children in scant clothing. Grok’s X account acknowledged lapses in safety measures and assured users that illegal content would not be tolerated.
In response to comments made by Ms. Kendall, Grok’s X account stated, “We value the feedback and take concerns about deepfakes seriously. xAI is actively enhancing Grok’s safeguards to prevent harmful content, including better filtering of inappropriate requests. We are committed to adhering to regulations and promoting a safer online environment.”