Musk v Starmer: will UK ban X over Grok nudification? – The Latest

This episode of The Latest explores the controversy surrounding Grok, a generative AI tool on X (formerly Twitter), which has been used to create non-consensual deepfake images of women and children. The tool's capabilities have raised alarm, leading to outrage from both the public and UK ministers. An interview with Ashley St. Clair highlights her personal experience of having her image manipulated by Grok, which resulted in degrading portrayals still available on the platform.

In response to the backlash, X decided to limit Grok's access to paid subscribers, which was deemed insufficient by the UK government. Legislative measures are being expedited to make it illegal to generate such harmful deepfake images, which would strengthen existing laws against sharing them. Ofcom, the media regulator, is also being given more authority to impose heavy fines or even ban X altogether, although these measures come with complications due to the platform's scale and its CEO, Elon Musk.

Musk's reaction has been framed as a defense of free speech, claiming that efforts by the UK government to regulate X are akin to censorship. However, the government views this issue as a serious public safety concern, particularly regarding child protection. The episode also touches upon political dynamics in both the UK and the U.S., highlighting how varying opinions on social media access and regulation are emerging, with calls for more stringent measures echoing across political lines. The discussion ends on the broader implications for social media regulation and how these events may shape future policies in the UK.