UK Launches Major Investigation into Elon Musk’s X After Grok AI Creates Explicit Deepfakes
By Lions Roar News Tech & Legal Desk
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (January 13, 2026) — The United Kingdom’s media regulator, Ofcom, has launched a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), over allegations that its built-in AI tool, Grok, is being used to generate non-consensual, sexually explicit “deepfake” images of women.
The probe follows a massive public and political outcry after a flood of AI-generated semi-nude and sexually suggestive images, created using Grok’s image generation capabilities, went viral across various social media platforms.
⚖️ The Online Safety Act in Action
The investigation will be conducted under the UK’s landmark Online Safety Act, which was designed to hold tech giants accountable for harmful content hosted on their platforms.
- The Focus: Ofcom is investigating whether X failed in its legal “duty of care” to prevent the creation and dissemination of harmful AI-generated content.
- Potential Penalties: If found guilty of violating the Act, X faces severe consequences, including:
- Massive Fines: Penalties can reach billions of dollars (up to 10% of global annual turnover).
- Service Restrictions: Limitations on how the platform operates within the UK.
- Full Ban: In extreme cases, Ofcom has the power to block the app and website entirely from operating in Great Britain.
“We have decided to launch a formal investigation to determine whether X has failed to comply with its legal obligations under the Online Safety Act regarding the safety of its users.” — Ofcom Spokesperson
🛡️ Public and Political Backlash
The decision to investigate comes after UK lawmakers and safety advocates raised alarms about the ease with which users could manipulate Grok to bypass safety filters and create degrading images of real women.
Activists argue that the platform’s lack of stringent safeguards has weaponized AI against women, leading to harassment and digital abuse.
