The UK’s communications regulator Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into X under the Online Safety Act following reports that the platform’s Grok AI chatbot was used to create and share non-consensual intimate images and content that may constitute child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The probe will assess whether X Corp has fulfilled its legal obligations to safeguard UK users, particularly children, from illegal content. This includes evaluating X's handling of priority illegal content, response time to reported violations, and implementation of robust age assurance systems.Ofcom has requested urgent clarification from xAI, X's parent company, and is prioritizing the investigation due to the severity of the allegations.

Penalties for non-compliance could include fines up to £18 million or 10 percent of global revenue, and even site-blocking orders. The UK government supports Ofcom's actions, while international regulators in the European Union, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia are also scrutinizing X. The latter two countries have already blocked access to Grok, citing inadequate safeguards against harmful AI-generated content.

This investigation underscores growing global concern over AI safety and online platform accountability, particularly regarding the protection of vulnerable users from digital harms.