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(Sharecast News) - The UK's online safety regulator Ofcom opened a formal investigation into X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday, over concerns that its platform has been used to generate and share sexualised imagery through the Grok artificial intelligence chatbot, including material that may be illegal under UK law.
It said the probe, launched under the Online Safety Act, would assess whether X met its legal duties to protect users in the UK from illegal content and to safeguard children from harm.
Ofcom said it identified "deeply concerning reports" that Grok had been used to create and circulate undressed images of people, which could amount to non-consensual intimate image abuse or pornography, as well as sexualised images of children that could constitute child sexual abuse material.
The regulator said it contacted X urgently on 5 January and set a deadline for the company to explain what steps it had taken to comply with its obligations.
X responded by the deadline, prompting Ofcom to carry out an expedited assessment before deciding to open a full investigation.
The investigation would examine whether X failed to assess and mitigate the risk of UK users encountering illegal content, whether it took appropriate steps to prevent access to priority illegal material such as non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material, and whether it removed illegal content swiftly once aware of it.
Ofcom said it would also assess whether the platform properly considered privacy protections, carried out adequate risk assessments for children, and used highly effective age-assurance measures to prevent children in the UK from seeing pornography.
"Reports of Grok being used to create and share illegal non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material on X have been deeply concerning," an Ofcom spokesperson said.
"Platforms must protect people in the UK from content that's illegal in the UK, and we won't hesitate to investigate where we suspect companies are failing in their duties, especially where there's a risk of harm to children."
The spokesperson added that the regulator would progress the case "as a matter of the highest priority" while ensuring due process.
Ofcom stressed that it does not act as a censor and does not direct platforms to remove specific posts.
It said that instead, its role is to assess whether companies have put appropriate systems and processes in place to comply with UK law.
If the investigation concludes that X breached its obligations, Ofcom could require remedial action, impose fines of up to 18m or 10% of qualifying global revenue, or, in the most serious cases, seek court-ordered business disruption measures such as blocking access to a service in the UK.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.