Overview
- The investigation will examine X’s risk assessment, takedown speed for illegal content, privacy protections, and the effectiveness of age-assurance to shield children from pornography.
- Ofcom contacted X on Jan. 5, reviewed its Jan. 9 response, and escalated to a formal probe after reports that Grok produced non-consensual intimate images and sexualised depictions of children.
- X says it removes illegal content and permanently suspends accounts and has limited Grok’s image-editing features to paying, verified users, while Elon Musk has accused the UK of seeking censorship.
- Potential penalties include fines up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, with possible court-ordered business disruption measures such as blocking access or cutting payment and advertising services.
- International pressure has intensified as Indonesia and Malaysia blocked access to Grok, and the European Commission ordered X to preserve Grok-related documents and data through 2026.