U.K. watchdog investigating X over Grok's sexualized AI images

Driving the news: Media watchdog Ofcom, which is responsible for enforcing the U.K.'s Online Safety Act, announced the formal inquiry on Monday.

• X's Grok chatbot has responded to user requests for sexualized images of people of all ages for weeks, and the content continues to circulate despite the company saying it is working to take down violative images.
• Malaysia and India have blocked X after the proliferation of AI deepfakes, per NPR.

What they're saying: "There have been deeply concerning reports of the Grok AI chatbot account on X being used to create and share undressed images of people – which may amount to intimate image abuse or pornography – and sexualised images of children that may amount to child sexual abuse material (CSAM)," the announcement states.

• X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

What's next: Ofcom says that its formal investigation will establish whether X has failed to comply with its legal obligations under the Online Safety Act.

• Those include taking down illegal content, taking steps to keep users on X from seeing illegal content, using age assurance tools and more.