Police are being called upon to investigate Elon Musk and X following a surge in sexualized deepfakes on the social media platform. Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has advocated for a criminal inquiry into the matter, emphasizing the need for a serious approach to the issue.
The UK’s Online Safety Act empowers Ofcom to penalize or shut down social media sites that do not adhere to strict guidelines, particularly regarding child protection online. Ofcom is presently conducting an investigation in this regard.
Sir Ed hinted at the possibility of considering severing ties with X, expressing concerns about the platform’s actions despite being vocal critics of Elon Musk. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong Liberal presence on the platform while calling for X’s suspension during Ofcom’s ongoing investigation.
Ofcom recently initiated a formal investigation into X, previously known as Twitter, to determine if it has violated its legal obligations under the Online Safety Act. The investigation could lead to fines or other punitive measures against the platform.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall denounced images generated by X’s AI chatbot Grok as “weapons of abuse.” She disclosed plans for new legislation to outlaw the creation of non-consensual intimate imagery, with a focus on combatting harmful content targeting women and girls.
Ms. Kendall also highlighted the government’s commitment to monitoring its engagement with X and its intention to criminalize apps facilitating the creation of fake nude images. She stressed the devastating impact of such content on individuals and the necessity to address it through legal measures.
Amidst growing concerns, Ofcom has raised alarms over potential child safety risks associated with X’s AI tool, Grok, which reportedly produced sexualized images of minors. Ofcom reiterated its duty to investigate and enforce regulatory compliance swiftly, especially in cases involving child protection.
The Internet Watch Foundation reported findings of illicit imagery of minors linked to Grok, raising alarm over potential exploitation. X acknowledged shortcomings in its safeguards and vowed to rectify them promptly to prevent the circulation of illegal content.
Elon Musk assured that individuals engaging in illegal content creation with Grok would face consequences akin to those uploading such material. X’s decision to monetize deepfake creation through Grok’s premium service was met with criticism for trivializing issues of misogyny and sexual violence.
In summary, the escalating concerns surrounding the proliferation of sexualized deepfakes on X have prompted calls for thorough investigations and regulatory actions to safeguard online users, particularly vulnerable populations.