Explainer: Starmer’s row with X over AI imagespublished at 13:42 GMT
13:42 GMT
Image source, FAZRY ISMAIL/EPA/Shutterstock
As we’ve been reporting, Starmer repeated threats to act against social media site X at PMQs earlier, following widespread concerns its AI tool Grok is being used to create sexualised images.
On Monday, the UK’s communications watchdog, Ofcom, announced it would be launching an investigation, saying there have been “deeply concerning reports” of the chatbot being used to create and share undressed images of people, as well as “sexualised images of children”.
Starmer said earlier this week that X could lose the “right to self regulate”, promising to act quickly on addressing the issue.
Labour backbencher Emily Darlington raised the issue at PMQs today, prompting Starmer to call X’s actions “disgusting and shameful”.
He said he had been informed this morning that X is acting to “ensure full compliance with UK law”, which he welcomed, before adding the government will “not back down” and could yet take further measures.
The BBC has approached X for comment. It previously said: “Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.”