Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into X under the Online Safety Act to assess whether the platform has complied with its legal duties to protect users in the UK from illegal content, following reports that the Grok AI tool has been used to create sexual abuse materials of adults and children.

The regulator said it urgently contacted X on Monday 5 January and set a deadline of Friday 9 January for the company to explain its compliance steps, after “deeply concerning reports” of non‑consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material.

Ofcom will examine whether X failed to assess risks, prevent access to priority illegal content, remove illegal material swiftly, protect users from privacy breaches, assess risks to children, and use highly effective age assurance to shield children from pornography, according to its published investigation outline.

If Ofcom finds breaches, it can order remedial steps, fine up to £18 million or 10 per cent of qualifying worldwide revenue, and in serious ongoing cases seek court‑imposed business disruption measures such as blocking access to the site in the UK. The watchdog emphasised that the Online Safety Act concerns protecting people in the UK and does not require global takedowns, noting platforms can geo‑protect UK users.

Government ministers urged swift action. “It is vital that Ofcom complete this investigation swiftly because the public - and most importantly the victims - will not accept any delay,” technology secretary Liz Kendall told the BBC. Downing Street said the government remains focused on “protecting children” and would keep its presence on X “under review,” according to the BBC’s reporting.

Some MPs and victims described ongoing harms. “The fact that I met just yesterday a Jewish woman who has found her image of herself in a bikini outside of Auschwitz being generated by AI and put online made me feel sick to my stomach,” Peter Kyle told BBC Breakfast. Jess Asato, a Labour MP and campaigner against AI nudification, told the Guardian: “It’s still happening to me and being posted on X because I speak up about it.”

The BBC reported that X referred to a statement from its Safety account at the start of January reiterating that users prompting Grok to create illegal content would face consequences equivalent to uploading it. Elon Musk later said the UK government wanted “any excuse for censorship,” according to the BBC. Separately, Malaysia and Indonesia temporarily blocked access to Grok over the weekend.

Ofcom said it would progress the investigation “as a matter of the highest priority” and will issue a provisional decision before a final ruling, as set out in the Act.

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