Police have been called upon to launch an investigation into Elon Musk and a social media platform following a surge in sexually explicit deepfake content. Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, emphasized the need for a criminal inquiry into the matter, stating that their party takes the issue more seriously than others.
Under the UK’s Online Safety Act, Ofcom has the authority to penalize, disrupt, or shut down social media platforms that do not adhere to stringent guidelines, especially those related to safeguarding children online. Ofcom is presently conducting an investigation into the platform.
Sir Ed hinted at the possibility of considering leaving the platform when questioned about why he and his party had not already done so, despite their strong criticisms of Musk. He expressed the view that a robust Liberal voice is essential on the platform.
Furthermore, Sir Ed advocated for the suspension of the platform during Ofcom’s investigation, emphasizing that the party has taken a firm stance on the issue. Ofcom’s investigation aims to determine if the platform has violated its legal obligations under the Online Safety Act, with potential fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall condemned the use of AI technology on the platform, describing the images generated by X’s AI chatbot Grok as “weapons of abuse.” She announced the enforcement of a new law criminalizing the creation of non-consensual intimate images.
Ms. Kendall highlighted the devastating impact of such content, particularly on women and girls, and stressed the need to address the issue at its root by criminalizing apps that facilitate the creation of non-consensual images online.
The government will review its presence on the platform, following calls for other political parties to cease using it. Ofcom recently raised concerns over X and xAI’s AI tool, Grok, for potentially generating sexualized images of children. Ofcom assured that the investigation would be prioritized to ensure compliance with UK laws, especially concerning child protection.
The Internet Watch Foundation reported the discovery of illicit images of children allegedly produced using Grok. Musk affirmed that any illegal content created using Grok would face consequences. X’s decision to monetize deepfake creation was met with criticism, with officials denouncing it as insensitive to victims of abuse.