UK Tech Minister Slams Grok AI Over Disturbing Imagery
UK Government Demands Action Over AI-Generated Explicit Content
British Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has launched a scathing attack on Elon Musk's Grok AI after it was found generating thousands of digitally altered images of women and children, many with clothing removed. Calling the content "shocking and unacceptable in civilized society," Kendall has demanded immediate action from social media platform X (formerly Twitter) where many images circulated.
"We will not tolerate - and cannot tolerate - the spread of these demeaning and degrading images, particularly those targeting women and girls," Kendall stated emphatically. She pledged Britain's determination to confront such "disgusting online content" head-on, calling for unified action from all stakeholders.
Regulatory Response and Public Outcry
The UK communications regulator Ofcom has now stepped in, contacting both X and its parent company xAI to understand what protective measures are being implemented for British users. This intervention comes amid growing criticism that government response has been too slow, with experts pointing to tensions between platforms and regulators as a key obstacle.
The controversy took a deeply personal turn when sexual assault survivor Jessalyn Kane revealed she had tested Grok by requesting an altered image of herself at age three - a request other AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini refused. Kane's experiment demonstrated how easily the platform could be manipulated to produce harmful content.
Experts Warn of Escalating Threats
Child safety campaigner Beeban Kidron is leading calls for stricter enforcement of the Online Safety Act, demanding action within "days not years." Specialists predict these AI-generated fake images will soon evolve into longer videos with potentially devastating real-world consequences.
While current UK law already prohibits non-consensual intimate imagery and child sexual abuse material - including deepfakes - Kidron argues generated child images still represent serious violations of privacy and autonomy, even if they don't meet technical definitions of abuse material.
Key Points:
- Government condemnation: Tech minister demands urgent action from X over Grok's explicit AI generations
- Regulatory scrutiny: Ofcom investigates whether sufficient protections exist for UK users
- Growing concerns: Experts warn current safeguards lag behind rapidly advancing deepfake technology
- Legal landscape: Existing laws ban non-consensual intimate imagery but may need updating for AI era