The UK government is moving quickly to enforce a new law that makes the creation of nonconsensual intimate deepfake images a criminal offense, following growing concern over sexually explicit AI-generated images linked to the Grok chatbot on X. The decision comes as pressure mounts to protect victims and address the misuse of artificial intelligence to create harmful content without consent.
The law is part of the Data Act passed last year, which already set out rules against creating or requesting intimate images of someone without their permission. The government has now confirmed that this offense will officially come into force this week. It will also be treated as a priority offense under the Online Safety Act, a step that increases the responsibility of online platforms to prevent such content from appearing in the first place rather than removing it after harm has already occurred.
Liz Kendall, the UK’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said the public expects fast and firm action, especially those affected by deepfake abuse. She emphasized that platforms will be required to take active steps to stop this content and that enforcement should not drag on for long periods. By making the offense a priority, the government aims to speed up responses and reduce the spread of harmful images.
At the same time, UK communications regulator Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into X over the spread of deepfake images linked to Grok. If Ofcom finds that X has breached the Online Safety Act, it could force the platform to change its practices and impose fines of up to £18 million or 10 percent of its global revenue, whichever is higher. The government has asked Ofcom to publish a clear timeline for the investigation as soon as possible.
X and its parent company xAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Earlier this month, X said it removes illegal content, suspends accounts involved, and works with authorities when required. The company also stated that users who prompt Grok to create illegal material face the same penalties as those who upload it.
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