The UK government is taking decisive action against X, the tech company behind the controversial Grok AI chatbot, following widespread concerns over the platform’s use to create non-consensual intimate images. Speaking to Labour MPs on Monday, Sir Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, warned that X could lose the “right to self-regulate” if it cannot control Grok, stating that “If X cannot control Grok, we will.”
In response, the government has announced plans to introduce new legislation that will make it illegal to create and share such non-consensual intimate images, as well as to supply online tools used to generate them. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has described the content circulated on X as “vile” and “not just an affront to decent society, it is illegal.” She has made it clear that individuals creating or seeking to create such content, as well as the platforms hosting it, will face the full extent of the law.
Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has also launched an investigation into X over “deeply concerning reports” about Grok’s image-altering capabilities. If found to have broken the law, X could face a fine of up to 10% of its worldwide revenue or £18 million, whichever is greater. Ofcom has been urged by the government to conclude its investigation as soon as possible and set out a timeline for action.
The government’s crackdown on non-consensual intimate images extends beyond X, with plans to also criminalise the supply of “nudification apps” designed to create such content. Kendall has stressed that this is not about restricting free speech, but rather about tackling violence against women and girls.
Legal experts have welcomed the government’s stance, describing it as an indicator of how seriously the issue is being taken. However, concerns remain about whether the police force has sufficient resources to effectively investigate and prosecute perpetrators. Nonetheless, the government is determined to hold both individuals and tech platforms accountable for their involvement in this type of harmful behaviour.
