Ofcom keeps X under the microscope despite Grok 'nudify' fix
- Reference: 1768475894
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2026/01/15/ofcom_grok_probe/
- Source link:
A spokesperson for the UK comms regulator said on Thursday: "X has said it's implemented measures to prevent the Grok account from being used to create intimate images of people.
"This is a welcome development. However, our formal investigation remains ongoing. We are working around the clock to progress this and get answers into what went wrong and what's being done to fix it."
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The statement follows X confirming that it has "implemented technological measures" to prevent Grok from editing images of real people, making them appear as though they have fewer or no clothes.
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Ofcom first made contact with X on January 5, following widespread reports that its AI chatbot, Grok, was being used to digitally undress images and generate sexualized depictions of real people – mainly women but also children.
A week later, the regulator [4]opened a formal investigation into X to understand whether it had complied with the Online Safety Act.
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On Wednesday evening, via its Safety account, [6]X stated : "We remain committed to making X a safe platform for everyone and continue to have zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content.
"We take action to remove high-priority violative content, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and non-consensual nudity, taking appropriate action against accounts that violate our X Rules. We also report accounts seeking child sexual exploitation materials to law enforcement authorities as necessary."
As well as blocking Grok from nudifying subjects, X has also implemented a geoblock on its chatbot's ability to generate images of people in bikinis, underwear, or similarly revealing clothes – known internally as "spicy mode" – where such content is restricted by law.
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The Elon Musk-owned platform's first attempt at damage control was to merely [8]limit Grok's nudifying capabilities to paid users only , having previously been available to any user registered on the site.
However, technology secretary Liz Kendall strongly rejected this move, calling it "an insult and totally unacceptable for Grok to still allow this if you're willing to pay for it."
X has now updated this, saying the restriction "applies to all users, including paid subscribers."
Kendall issued a fresh statement on Thursday, following X's latest announcement, encouraging Ofcom to investigate the company fully, despite the platform saying it has adhered to the government's request.
[9]Stop dragging feet on AI nudification ban, UK government told
[10]Ofcom officially investigating X as Grok's nudify button stays switched on
[11]Grok told to cover up as UK weighs action over AI 'undressing'
[12]UK regulators swarm X after Grok generated nudes from photos
"I welcome this move from X, though I will expect the facts to be fully and robustly established by Ofcom's ongoing investigation," said Kendall.
"Our Online Safety Act is and always has been about keeping people safe on social media – especially children – and it has given us the tools to hold X to account in recent days.
"I also want to thank those who have spoken out against this abuse, above all the victims. I shall not rest until all social media platforms meet their legal duties and provide a service that is safe and age-appropriate to all users.
Rob Bonta, California's attorney general, also opened an investigation into X this week, urging it to take immediate action against the reports that it was nudifying women and children.
"The avalanche of reports detailing the non-consensual, sexually explicit material that xAI has produced and posted online in recent weeks is shocking," he said.
"This material, which depicts women and children in nude and sexually explicit situations, has been used to harass people across the internet.
"I urge xAI to take immediate action to ensure this goes no further. We have zero tolerance for the AI-based creation and dissemination of non-consensual intimate images or of child sexual abuse material." ®
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[4] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/12/xai_grok_uk_regulation/
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[6] https://x.com/Safety/status/2011573102485127562
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[8] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/09/grok_image_generation_uk/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/14/uk_government_nudification_ban/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/12/xai_grok_uk_regulation/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/09/grok_image_generation_uk/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/08/uk_regulators_swarm_x_after/
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
"Grok can be told not to do something"
We already knew this, because Musk told it not to criticise him. Grok generates child pornography by design and intent.
I'm surprised Musk caved as quickly as he did when California started investigating, he was still framing it as a free speech issue and the US Gov was sabre rattling as usual about consequences if the UK sanctioned X in any way. Given relations between California and the US Gov are not exactly friendly I was expecting more of a pushback, especially as the rumour is Musk is now back in the tent pissing out (what a shock that they want him back onside before the midterms....)
"Turns out it was a switch"
Maybe.
So someone outside the UK asks Grok to create an image. Grok determines that the image would conflict with UK law. Grok generates the image anyway and (as is its wont) slaps it on X for public view. Is that image visible in the UK?
If so, the switch fails to address most of the complaints from campaigners.
If not, what if someone reposts it, which is obviously pretty straightforward for the person who generated it if they want to be a dick about it. Is it visible now?
If so, this also fails to address most of the complaints.
If not, it is rather more than a switch, since they've apparently wired X to support a "do not show to users in XYZ" feature and it is transitive.
Do not attempt this at home
You will be shut down and arrested within the day.
Your mileage may vary depending on your Trillionaire status.
Geoblocked
So it's Geoblocked. That's great now all the kids know how to use a VPN to get round the porn blocks...
Re: Geoblocked
Indeed. Which shows Musk has full control over what his tools can and cannot do...he has decided to continue to allow people to abuse women and children in this way. I'm pleased that's crystal clear even if it doesn't stop the abuse: it's his choice and therefore his responsibility. Lets see what happens in time.
Cold milk poured over 'spicy mode'
Sounds rather kinky.
Those living in hotter climes might be panting to be doused with le lait froid by the traditional scantily clad French maid.
Anything that gives X grief and thereby giving Musk a poke in the eye is fine by me even before examining all the issues and ramifications which no one in the UK establishment is likely to bother about before firing another blunderbuss of hasty, ill·considered regulation and legislation in the general direction of the problem.
Re: Cold milk poured over 'spicy mode'
Likely going down the "extreme pornography"+++ route where since the site is hosted outwith the UK, they will just criminalise end users and in such a badly worded and frankly brain dead way that people even reading news stories about this or in possession of images of themselves, consensual nude images or actual artistic nude photographs/artwork will be arrested, prosecuted and jailed and the govt will hold firm that their legislation was perfectly worded and this is an operational matter for the police and courts, this will go on and on and on until it touches someone high up in central command of whichever lot are in power this week.....
big meh
The only thing blocked us porn made from pictures of real people, apparently it'll still make kiddie porn
JFC...
Wasn't the OSA intended to deal with stuff like this? You can't get much more online un safe than having an AI undress children. Why are Ofcom sitting on their hands dithering about this? All of us with little specialist forums or comments sections on blogs have to jump through a bunch of idiotic hoops to hope to appease Ofcom's interpretation of a rather vaguely worded piece of legislation, yet they don't seem to be especially interested in stamping down on an autoporn generator?
Useless cretins.
Re: JFC...
>> Why are Ofcom sitting on their hands dithering about this?
X is American. If it was Russian, Chinese, North Korean, Venezuelan, etc. they would have already done something and made a big song and dance about it.
American companies get a free pass. It is bias and hypocrisy.
I am suprised there haven't been more uproar from US politicians, but this is probably because Musk is now back in the good books with Trump. I have no doubt if this had been something that Meta AI was doing Trump would be holding a press conference announcing that the dept of justice will be thoroughly investigating Zuckerberg and Facebook for creating CSA images.
There's no smoke without the fire
If Grok is capable of producing CSA material, then surely it was trained on such material in the first place?
How does it generate images containing age relevant/undeveloped genitalia without the reference training images/guidance?
Re: There's no smoke without the fire
No-one said it was realistic. Maybe it is just like adult porn, only smaller. We wouldn't know, since none of us have seen the material in question.
‘No one can get up much enthusiasm for a Government which puts you in jail if you open your mouth’
“By sitting in the alcove, and keeping well back, Winston was able to remain outside the range of the Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) telescreen, so far as sight went. He could be heard, of course, but so long as he stayed in his present position he could not be seen.”
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
To all the ACs who said this was "Technically very difficult because of how complex LLMs are".
Turns out it was a switch...turns out your dogshit LLM is just an old wizard pulling some rusty chains to make child porn come flying out.
Turns out you didn't know as much as you thought you did about how "difficult" it was to switch off Grok's child pornography generator.
Turns out Musk's dogshit chatbot Grok can be told not to do something...if the correct US court threat is issued.
Makes our premier look a bit limp dicked...his chance to actually take action (shut down X until Grok was either disabled or made so it wasn't a child pornography generator) was missed. Sad times. Thank you California!
Bit sad that child pornography mode...sorry...spicy mode will still be available to all good VPNs since Musk couldn't bring himself to actually disable the functionality where there is high demand for it and therefore money to be made from it. Great guy. Great company.