UK to Bring Into Force Law to Tackle Grok AI Deepfakes This Week

The United Kingdom is poised to enact a crucial piece of legislation this week, making the creation of non-consensual intimate images a criminal offense. This decisive action comes in response to escalating public outcry and widespread concerns surrounding the misuse of Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot, which has been implicated in the generation of deeply disturbing deepfake content. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has unequivocally stated that the government’s commitment extends beyond merely penalizing creation, asserting that measures will also be implemented to hold companies accountable for supplying the very tools designed to produce such illicit imagery.

Speaking with resolute conviction in the House of Commons, Kendall articulated the gravity of the situation, describing AI-generated depictions of women and children in states of undress, created without explicit consent, not as "harmless images" but as potent "weapons of abuse." This strong condemnation underscores the government’s recognition of the profound harm inflicted by these fabricated images, which can have devastating and long-lasting psychological and social repercussions for victims. The implications of such technology extend far beyond mere digital fabrication, representing a direct assault on individual privacy, dignity, and safety.

The BBC has sought comment from X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, regarding its role and responsibilities in this unfolding crisis. X has previously issued a statement asserting that "Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content." While this statement attempts to distance the platform from direct culpability, critics argue that it falls short of adequately addressing the systemic issues that enable such content to be created and disseminated in the first place. The onus, they contend, should not solely rest on users but also on the platform’s proactive measures to prevent the generation and spread of harmful AI-generated material.

This impending legislative enforcement arrives mere hours after Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, announced it was launching a formal investigation into X. The investigation is specifically focused on "deeply concerning reports" detailing instances of Grok allegedly altering images of individuals without their consent. Ofcom’s intervention signifies the seriousness with which these allegations are being treated by regulatory bodies, recognizing the potential for widespread misuse of AI technologies to violate privacy and cause distress.

In a direct appeal to the regulator, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall urged Ofcom to expedite its proceedings, imploring them not to allow the investigation to drag on for "months and months." She emphatically demanded that a clear timeline for the investigation’s conclusion be established "as soon as possible," highlighting the urgent need for swift action to protect vulnerable individuals. The speed of technological advancement often outpaces the pace of regulatory response, and Kendall’s call for urgency reflects a proactive stance to ensure that legal frameworks can effectively keep pace with emerging threats.

Currently, the law in the UK prohibits the sharing of deepfakes of adults, acknowledging the inherent harm and reputational damage such acts can inflict. However, until now, the legislative framework that would have rendered the creation or request of such images a criminal offense has not been fully enforced. This legislation, though passed in June 2025, has existed in a state of partial implementation, creating a loophole that malicious actors have exploited. The government’s current move aims to close this critical gap and ensure comprehensive legal recourse.

Kendall further elaborated on the government’s commitment by declaring her intention to designate the creation and dissemination of such content as a "priority offense" within the broader framework of the Online Safety Act. This strategic classification signals the government’s intent to elevate the severity of these offenses, ensuring they are treated with the utmost seriousness by law enforcement and the judiciary. The Online Safety Act, a landmark piece of legislation, aims to create a safer online environment by placing greater responsibility on tech companies and holding individuals accountable for harmful online conduct.

"The content which has circulated on X is vile. It’s not just an affront to decent society, it is illegal," Kendall stated with unwavering conviction, leaving no room for ambiguity regarding the government’s stance. This powerful denouncement of the AI-generated deepfakes underscores the moral and legal imperatives driving the new legislation. The characterization of the content as "vile" and an "affront to decent society" reflects a deep societal concern about the erosion of trust and the potential for widespread psychological harm.

"Let me be crystal clear – under the Online Safety Act, sharing intimate images of people without their consent, or threatening to share them, including pictures of people in their underwear, is a criminal offence for individuals and for platforms," she reiterated, reinforcing the broad scope of the new legal provisions. This clarification is vital, ensuring that both individuals who create and platforms that facilitate the dissemination of such content are held liable. The inclusion of threats to share images further strengthens the protective measures for victims.

"This means individuals are committing a criminal offence if they create or seek to create such content including on X, and anyone who does this should expect to face the full extent of the law," Kendall concluded, delivering a stern warning to those who might contemplate engaging in such illicit activities. This unequivocal statement serves as a clear deterrent, signaling that the era of impunity for creating and distributing non-consensual intimate imagery, particularly through advanced AI tools like Grok, is coming to an end. The government’s proactive legislative approach, coupled with robust enforcement, aims to safeguard individuals and uphold the principles of privacy and consent in the digital age. The implications of this law are far-reaching, setting a precedent for how other nations may choose to address the challenges posed by AI-generated deepfakes and the evolving landscape of online harm. The swift action taken by the UK government underscores the urgent need for global cooperation and robust regulatory frameworks to navigate the complex ethical and legal challenges presented by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence technologies. The focus on holding both creators and the purveyors of these tools accountable represents a significant step towards creating a more responsible and secure digital environment for all.