UK Moves Forward with Law to Outlaw Deepfake Nudes After Grok Controversy

The generation of intimate deepfake images without consent will soon be illegal in the UK, compelling digital platforms to preemptively address and prevent the spread of such content.

Legislative Action

An impending legal adjustment in the UK will criminalize the creation of non-consensual intimate deepfake photos. This measure follows incidents where the Grok AI chatbot was used to generate illicit content on platform X.

As Liz Kendall, the UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, declared, 'The laws established by last year's Data Act have criminalized the creation or solicitation of these non-consensual images. This week marks the enactment of this offense, elevating its status within the Online Safety Act.' This urgent change mandates online services to take active measures to prevent the appearance of such images.

Regulatory Oversight

Ofcom, the UK's communications regulators, is now investigating platform X regarding the Grok-related deepfake activity. Potential breaches of the Online Safety Act could require X to adopt specified compliance measures under the threat of substantial financial penalties, up to £18 million or 10% of their global revenue, depending on which is higher.

Kendall has stated, 'It is anticipated that Ofcom will expedite their investigation. The public, particularly the victims of Grok's misuse, demand quick and firm action. A protracted timeline is not acceptable.'

Platform Response

xAI has yet to provide an official comment. In early January, X affirmed its commitment to battling illegal content, such as Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), by enforcing policies that include content removal and permanent account suspensions, while cooperating with local authorities.

Grok Functionality Adjustments

Recently, X imposed restrictions on the Grok chatbot's capabilities to produce images, limiting public image generation via tagging in responses to subscription-based services. Nevertheless, alternatives for free access that enable creation and modification of images, including explicit content, have persisted.