“It’s not a solution. In fact, it’s insulting to victims of misogyny and sexual violence. What it does prove is that X can move swiftly when it wants to do so,” they added.
The U.K.’s media regulator Ofcom said on Monday it is in urgent contact with X to ascertain whether an investigation under the Online Safety Act is warranted.
In a fresh statement Friday night, the regulator said of X: “We urgently made contact on Monday and set a firm deadline of today to explain themselves, to which we have received a response. We’re now undertaking an expedited assessment as a matter of urgency and will provide further updates shortly.”
X has yet to respond to request for comment.
‘Days not weeks’
On Friday afternoon, U.K. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said she expects media regulator Ofcom to update the government swiftly on its next steps. “I, and more importantly the public — would expect to see Ofcom update on next steps in days not weeks,” she said.
Kendall added: “I would remind xAI [X’s parent company] that the Online Safety Act Includes the power to block services from being accessed in the U.K., if they refuse to comply with U.K. law. If Ofcom decide to use those powers they will have our full support.”
Labour MP Chi Onwurah, who chairs the House of Commons Science, Technology and Innovation Committee, wrote to Kendall on Friday asking why Ofcom hadn’t kicked off a formal investigation into X yet or taken enforcement action.
This story has been updated with further reporting.