British regulator Ofcom opens investigation into X | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"The UK body said it is not a government censor, and the inquiry will determine whether X is facilitating the spread of nonconsensual deepfake pornography of adults and children. \"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-over-nonconsensual-deepfakes\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"British regulator Ofcom opens investigation into X\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The UK body said it is not a government censor, and the inquiry will determine whether X is facilitating the spread of nonconsensual deepfake pornography of adults and children. \"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-over-nonconsensual-deepfakes\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" 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<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-mobile\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--newsletter js-stickybar\" readability=\"0.82\"> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"26.635682158921\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"35.429245283019\">\n<p> The UK body said it is not a government censor, and the inquiry will determine whether X is facilitating the spread of nonconsensual deepfake pornography of adults and children. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/87371\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"448\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x.jpg?resize=640%2C448&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-2.jpg 3544w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-2.jpg?resize=300,210 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-2.jpg?resize=768,537 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-2.jpg?resize=1024,716 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-2.jpg?resize=1536,1074 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-2.jpg?resize=2048,1433 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-2.jpg?resize=600,420 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-2.jpg?resize=240,168 240w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-2.jpg?resize=482,337 482w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-2.jpg?resize=965,675 965w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-2.jpg?resize=1205,843 1205w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 965px) 100vw, 965px\"><figcaption> The Grok app on an iPhone, against the backdrop of search results displayed on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on a laptop, in London. The Prime Minister has said X need to “get their act together” amid concerns about the creation of sexualised images of adults and children by AI embedded on the social media site. Sir Keir Starmer said he backed Ofcom, which is looking into X and xAI – the firm founded by Elon Musk which created Grok – to take action against the site, and that he had asked for “all options to be on the table”. It comes as a former minister urged the Government and the Labour Party to stop using the site entirely. Users of X appear to have prompted its artificial intelligence Grok, which is integrated into the platform, to generate deepfake images of children “in minimal clothing”. Picture date: Thursday January 8, 2026. (Photo by Yui Mok\/PA Images via Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"32.249167591565\"><body readability=\"65.352941176471\"><\/p>\n<p>The UK\u2019s top internet regulator opened a formal investigation into social media network X after users, with the help of its AI chatbot Grok, flooded the site with nonconsensual, AI-manipulated nude and undressed photos of real people.<\/p>\n<p>On Monday, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which regulates internet and telecommunications companies, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ofcom.org.uk\/online-safety\/illegal-and-harmful-content\/ofcom-launches-investigation-into-x-over-grok-sexualised-imagery\">said<\/a> the investigation will determine whether the content violates The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/online-safety-act-explainer\/online-safety-act-explainer\">UK Online Safety Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Ofcom said the investigation will focus on whether X has complied with portions of the law requiring them to assess the risk of whether such content will reach UK audiences online, take steps prevent the distribution of nonconsensual images and child sexual abuse material (CSAM), take down illegal content and protect user privacy.<\/p>\n<p>It will also focus on whether X took steps to evaluate the risk that Grok\u2019s deepfake capabilities would pose to UK children or use age verification features to block children from access or seeing the content. The regulator said it continues to engage with officials at X, who will have \u201can opportunity to respond to our findings in full, as required by the Act, before we make our final decision.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cReports of Grok being used to create and share illegal non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material on X have been deeply concerning,\u201d an Ofcom spokesperson said in a statement. \u201cPlatforms must protect people in the UK from content that\u2019s illegal in the UK, and we won\u2019t hesitate to investigate where we suspect companies are failing in their duties, especially where there\u2019s a risk of harm to children.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ofcom also specified that it is a regulatory body, not a government censor, and the purpose of the inquiry is to determine whether X is breaking the law by facilitating the spread of nonconsensual deepfake pornography, including that of children.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the ruling Labour Party <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/senators-ask-apple-google-remove-x-after-grok-ai-sexual-deepfakes\/\">called<\/a> the deepfake scandal \u201cdisgusting\u201d and said all options, including banning X from Britain, were on the table.<\/p>\n<p>Following the investigation, the regulator will determine if X has failed to comply with the Online Safety Act and issue a provisional sanction. Beyond possible legal orders compelling X to change Grok and its business practices, the sanctions could include fines of up to \u00a318 million or 10% of the company\u2019s worldwide revenue.Ofcom said it has used its newfound powers under the Online Safety Act \u2013 first implemented last year \u2013 to launch investigations into more than 90 platforms, issue fines to six companies for failure to have \u201crobust\u201d age verification technology, and issued its first \u00a31 million fine.<\/p>\n<p>But the investigation and potential sanctions of X, based in the U.S. and owned by the richest person in the world, will mark the most significant test yet of the regulatory agency\u2019s authority under the new law. Thus far the U.S. The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission have been silent as outrage from users and international governments continues to grow.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"3.6169429097606\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"13\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Derek B. Johnson\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Derek B. Johnson<\/h4>\n<p> Derek B. Johnson is a reporter at CyberScoop, where his beat includes cybersecurity, elections and the federal government. Prior to that, he has provided award-winning coverage of cybersecurity news across the public and private sectors for various publications since 2017. Derek has a bachelor\u2019s degree in print journalism from Hofstra University in New York and a master\u2019s degree in public policy from George Mason University in Virginia. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> 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{"id":8249,"date":"2026-01-12T12:57:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T18:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=87371"},"modified":"2026-01-12T12:57:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T18:57:01","slug":"british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2026\/01\/12\/british-regulator-ofcom-opens-investigation-into-x\/","title":{"rendered":"British regulator Ofcom opens investigation into X"},"content":{"rendered":"