Britain's media regulator, Ofcom, has formally opened a probe into the Grok artificial intelligence chatbot on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. The investigation, launched on January 12, 2026, centres on alarming reports that the AI tool has been used to generate sexualised and undressed images of individuals without their consent.
Core of the Investigation: Consent and Privacy Breaches
Ofcom stated it is examining whether X, owned by Elon Musk, has contravened UK laws concerning privacy and consent. The regulator highlighted specific concerns about the generation of "intimate image abuse or pornography" featuring adults, and the creation of sexualised imagery of children, which may constitute illegal material.
In a direct statement, Ofcom said: "There have been deeply concerning reports of the Grok AI chatbot account on X being used to create and share undressed images of people... and sexualised images of children that may amount to child sexual abuse material."
Legal Powers and User Experiences
The investigation is being conducted under the sweeping Online Safety Act. This legislation grants Ofcom significant authority, including the power to impose substantial fines on technology companies or, in the most severe cases, to effectively ban a platform like X from operating in the United Kingdom.
This action follows revelations by Metro, which spoke to women targeted by the AI. Users reportedly prompted Grok, which is integrated directly into X, to digitally alter images by dressing women in revealing outfits, removing their clothing, or posing them suggestively. In one instance reported last week, the chatbot was used to superimpose the image of a cabinet minister into a bikini.
Regulatory Timeline and Broader Scrutiny
Ofcom had previously given X and xAI—the AI start-up behind Grok—a deadline of the previous Friday to provide an explanation for the chatbot's outputs. Concurrently, the UK's data protection watchdog confirmed it is also in discussions with X regarding user privacy concerns stemming from the AI's capabilities.
The case underscores the urgent regulatory challenges posed by rapidly evolving generative AI. It places X and its controversial owner, Elon Musk, under intense scrutiny for how their platform manages and mitigates harmful AI-generated content that violates British law and victimises individuals.
