UK government hits out at 'insulting' changes to Elon Musk's X chatbot amid deepfakes backlash
Topics: Elon Musk, Twitter, Social Media, UK News
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Topics: Elon Musk, Twitter, Social Media, UK News
The UK government has hit out at Elon Musk regarding changes to X's Grok AI tool, which allows users to alter images.
Many social media users have been using the free AI assistant to digitally undress people, put them in bikinis, or in sexual situations.
While AI certainly has its benefits, recent usage of Grok has showcased the downside of the tech given the sheer number of intimate deepfakes on the social media site owned by Musk.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has even said criminals have used Grok to create child sexual abuse imagery.
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Grok has seen changes however, with users now prompted to buy a subscription if they want to use the AI service.
When users ask Grok to alter the image, they are now issued with the following response: "Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers."
Downing Street, who have threatened to ban X in the UK, have since dismissed the latest changes as 'insulting' and 'not a solution'.
A spokesperson said: "This simply turns an AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service... In fact, it's insulting the victims of misogyny and sexual violence."
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall also weighed in on the debate, stating Ofcom should 'use the full powers of the law that parliament has given it' to block X in Britain.
"I think the images being produced are despicable and abhorrent and sexualizing images of children is one of the worst crimes imaginable," she said in a statement.
"And I think it is insulting to say that you can still access this service if you pay for it. So Ofcom should use the full powers of the law that Parliament has given it."
The MP added: "X needs to get a grip and get this material down, and I would remind them that in the Online Safety Act there are backstop powers to block access to services if they refuse to comply with the law for people in the UK.
"And if Ofcom decides to use those powers, they would have the full backing of the government."
Sir Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, has previously said Musk and X need to 'get their act together' and 'get a grip' on the current situation regarding Grok.
"If another media company had billboards in town centres showing unlawful images, it would act immediately to take them down or face public backlash," a spokesperson for the prime minister added.
In a statement provided to UNILAD, X said: "We take action against illegal content on X, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), by removing it, permanently suspending accounts, and working with local governments and law enforcement as necessary.
"Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content."