August M
British authorities have opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, raising the prospect that the tool could be blocked across the UK. Officials say recent changes made by X do not go far enough to protect users.
The move follows mounting concern over AI-generated images and online safety failures.
Regulator steps in
Britain’s communications watchdog Ofcom confirmed on Monday that it has launched an investigation into X and its AI chatbot Grok, according to a press release cited by TV2 News.
Ofcom said it contacted X earlier this month to ask what steps had been taken to protect British users. Although the company responded before a deadline last Friday, the regulator decided the explanation was insufficient and escalated the matter into a formal probe.
Technology and Business Secretary Peter Kyle told several UK media outlets that the investigation could be the first step toward blocking Grok entirely in the UK.
“X is not doing enough to ensure the safety of their customers online,” he said.
Image abuse concerns
The investigation follows reports that Grok has been used to generate fake nude images of adults and sexualised images of children. TV2 News previously reported that users were able to access a so-called “spicy mode” that facilitated the creation of such material.
One victim, Samantha Smith, told the BBC on January 2: “Even though it wasn’t me who was undressed, it looked like me and it felt like me, and it felt just as offensive as if someone had actually posted a nude or bikini picture of me.”
X has since restricted Grok’s image-generation functions, but UK authorities say those measures fall short.
Past controversies
This is not the first time Grok has drawn criticism. In July 2025, the chatbot was accused of generating antisemitic content, including a response that named Adolf Hitler when asked about addressing hatred against whites.
After public backlash, X said it had “taken steps” to curb hate speech, adding in a post that it was “actively working to remove the inappropriate posts”.
On January 4, X said on its platform that it removes illegal content, including child abuse material, suspends offending accounts and cooperates with authorities.
Political pressure
British technology minister Liz Kendall told the BBC on Friday that the images linked to Grok were “vile and disgusting” and said she expected swift action from Ofcom.
“The Online Safety Act has the power to block services in the UK if they refuse to comply with UK law,” she said, adding that the government would fully support such a decision.
Malaysia and Indonesia have already blocked Grok, citing concerns over abusive content.
What comes next
Ofcom will now gather evidence to assess whether X has breached UK law. If violations are found and X fails to comply, the regulator could impose fines or shut down Grok’s access in the UK.
TV2 News said it contacted X for comment, but the company did not respond.
Sources: TV2 News, Ofcom, BBC
