Elon Musk has claimed that critics of his social media platform X are exploiting the controversy over its AI chatbot, Grok, as a pretext for censorship.
The statement follows significant backlash after Grok was used to generate sexualized images of individuals without their knowledge or consent.
In response, the UK communications regulator, Ofcom, has launched an urgent assessment of X. The probe is backed by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, who emphasized the need to hold platforms accountable for harmful AI-generated content.
However, the chairwomen of Parliament’s technology and media committees have raised concerns that potential “gaps” in the Online Safety Act could limit Ofcom’s ability to address the issue effectively.
Amid the growing pressure, X has restricted the AI image generation function to paid subscribers—a move Downing Street has criticized as “insulting” to victims of sexual violence.
The change has sparked further debate about whether placing harmful features behind a paywall constitutes a meaningful solution or an evasion of responsibility.
The situation highlights escalating tensions between platform governance, regulatory authority, and ethical AI use, as lawmakers and regulators grapple with fast-evolving digital threats.
By James Kisoo
