![[aggregator] downloaded image for imported item #22794](https://newsview.top/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/liz-kendall-uk-government-1024x576.jpg "UK targets Elon Musk’s X with fines and possible ban over Grok deepfake abuse")
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TheBritish governmentintensified its crackdown on AI-generated sexual abuse Monday after ministers confirmed a possible ban on Elon Musk’s social media platform X amid a widening probe and with the company potentially incurring hefty fines.
The dramatic move follows the launch of aformal investigationby Ofcom, the U.K.communications regulator, into whether X breached its legal duties under the U.K.’s Online Safety Act and came after reports that the platform’s built-in AI chatbot, Grok, was used to generate and share sexualized deepfake images of women and children.
Grok was launched in 2023 but its image generator feature, Grok Imagine, was added in 2025 with a specific mode to generate adult content.
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Liz Kendall described the recent use of the AI tool being misused to generate sexually explicit and non-consensual images as “deeply disturbing.”
Kendall also warned that social media companies would be held accountable if they failed to act.
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Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Liz Kendall has warned that Ofcom has the authority to issue “fines worth millions of dollars” or penalties of up to 10% of a company’s qualifying worldwide revenue.( Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“I welcome Ofcom’s urgency in launching a formal investigation today,” Kendall said, accordingto Reuters.“It is vital that Ofcom complete this investigation swiftly because the public – and most importantly the victims – will not accept any delay.”
In aseparate statementshared later Monday, Kendall said the Grok AI tool had been used to create and circulate degrading, non-consensual intimate images.
“No woman or child should live in fear of having their image sexually manipulatedby technology,”she said before adding, “The content which has circulated on X is vile.It is not just an affront to decent society, it is illegal.”
Kendall added that sharing or threatening to share deepfake intimate images without consent, including images of people in their underwear, constitutes a criminal offense under U.K.law.
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The British government is stepping up its crackdown on AI-generated sexual abuse, with officials confirming a possible ban on Elon Musk’s X as part of a widening probe.(Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)
She warned that Ofcom has the authority to issue“fines worth millions of dollars”or penalties of up to 10% of a company’s qualifying worldwide revenue.
“But X does not have to wait for the Ofcom investigation to conclude,” Kendall said.“They can choose to act sooner to ensure this abhorrent and illegal material cannot be shared on their platform,” she warned.
Ofcom had said it “urgently made contact” with X on Jan.5, demanding explanations about the steps being taken to protect U.K.users and setting a response deadline of Jan.9.
While xAI, another company founded by Musk, responded, Ofcom said it decided to open a formal investigation after reviewing the available evidence “as a matter of the highest priority.”
Ina statementshared Monday, Ofcom said, “Reports of Grok being used to create and share illegal non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material on X have been deeply concerning.”
“Platforms must protect people in the UK from content that’s illegal in the UK, and we won’t hesitate to investigate where we suspect companies are failing in their duties, especially where there’s a risk of harm to children,” the statement said.
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The logo of the AI chatbot Grok, which is being developed by the company xAI and was founded by Elon Musk in 2023, can be seen on the display of an iPhone standing on a laptop keyboard. (Silas Stein/Picture alliance via Getty Images)
As previously reported byAssociated Pressalso reported Monday that Malaysia and Indonesia have become the first countries to block Grok.
�s office for comment.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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