Downing Street 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 announced that its AI chatbot Grok will offer the creation of deepfakes as a premium service. However, the Government deems this insufficient and has urged X to take further action, warning Musk that all options are being considered to address the disturbing abuse.
Despite calls to do so, Downing Street 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 their consent.
A spokesperson for Keir Starmer stated, “Turning an AI feature that facilitates the production of illegal images into a premium service is not a resolution. It not only disrespects victims of misogyny and sexual violence but also demonstrates X’s ability to act promptly when necessary.” The spokesperson emphasized the urgency for X to address the issue, comparing it to the swift action a media company would take to remove offensive billboards in town centers.
Furthermore, the spokesperson emphasized the need to prevent the creation of unlawful and reprehensible images on Grok and prioritized taking action to achieve that goal. The Labour Party is reportedly contemplating discontinuing the use of X following condemnation from the Prime Minister for the site’s unacceptable behavior.
Party chairwoman Anna Turley indicated that discussions are ongoing within Labour regarding their association with the platform, emphasizing the importance of ensuring a safe environment. She echoed the Prime Minister’s condemnation of X’s actions as abhorrent and stressed the need for the platform to address the issue promptly. Turley disclosed her personal contemplation on the matter over the past few months.
Turley highlighted that the government is collaborating with regulator Ofcom to address the misuse of AI technology. Ofcom recently engaged with Musk’s X and xAI due to significant concerns about Grok’s creation of sexualized images of children on the platform, including undressed images of individuals.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall instructed Musk’s social media company to address the issue urgently and pledged full support for Ofcom in taking any necessary enforcement measures against X or xAI. Kendall emphasized the UK’s intolerance towards the proliferation of offensive and abusive content online, calling for collective efforts to eradicate it.
Grok’s X account acknowledged deficiencies in safeguarding measures and pledged immediate remedial action, emphasizing the illegality and prohibition of child sexual abuse material. Musk reinforced the consequences for those using Grok for illegal content creation. In response to comments made by Kendall, Grok’s X account assured improvements in safeguards to prevent harmful content and reiterated its commitment to compliance with regulations to foster a safer online environment.