TL;DR
The UK government is bringing into force a provision that makes creating or requesting non-consensual intimate deepfakes a criminal offence and is designating it a priority offence under the Online Safety Act. Regulator Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into X over deepfakes generated by the Grok chatbot; breaches could trigger compliance orders and large fines.
What happened
The UK moved quickly to activate a criminal offence covering the creation or solicitation of non-consensual intimate deepfake images, a measure set out in the Data Act passed last year. Secretary of State Liz Kendall told Parliament the offence will be brought into force this week and that it will be treated as a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, which obliges online services to take proactive steps to prevent such content from appearing. Separately, Ofcom has launched a formal probe into X over deepfakes produced by the Grok AI chatbot. If Ofcom concludes the platform has breached the Online Safety Act, it can order remedial steps and levy fines — described in government guidance as up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is higher. The government has urged Ofcom to publish a prompt timeline for the investigation. xAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment; X previously said it removes illegal content, including child sexual abuse material.
Why it matters
- Creates a new criminal pathway for people who make or request intimate deepfake material without consent.
- Designating the offence as a priority under the Online Safety Act forces platforms to act proactively rather than responding only after posts appear.
- An Ofcom finding of breach could trigger significant financial penalties and compulsory compliance orders.
- The move responds directly to a high-profile incident involving Grok on X and signals faster regulatory action on AI-generated abuse.
Key facts
- The Data Act, passed in the UK last year, made it an offence to create or request non-consensual intimate images.
- The government announced the offence will be brought into force this week.
- Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said the offence will be made a priority under the Online Safety Act.
- Priority offences under the Online Safety Act require services to take proactive measures to stop prohibited content appearing.
- Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into X over deepfakes generated by the Grok chatbot.
- If Ofcom finds a breach of the Online Safety Act it can require steps to comply and impose fines.
- Potential fines cited are up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater.
- xAI did not immediately reply to a request for comment; X previously stated it takes action against illegal content, including CSAM.
What to watch next
- Ofcom’s published timeline for the X/Grok investigation and the regulator’s formal findings.
- What specific proactive measures platforms implement once the offence is treated as a priority under the Online Safety Act.
- Whether Ofcom issues compliance orders or fines to X and the scale of any penalties imposed.
Quick glossary
- Deepfake: A synthetic or manipulated image, audio, or video created using AI techniques to convincingly mimic real people.
- Non-consensual intimate images: Sexually explicit images or videos of a person shared or created without their permission.
- Data Act: UK legislation referenced in the source that includes an offence covering the creation or request of non-consensual intimate images.
- Online Safety Act: UK law that sets duties for online services to manage content risks and allows regulators to require compliance steps.
- Ofcom: The UK communications regulator responsible for enforcing aspects of the Online Safety Act among other regulatory duties.
Reader FAQ
What exactly did the UK change?
The government is bringing into force a Data Act provision that makes creating or requesting non-consensual intimate deepfakes a criminal offence and designating it a priority under the Online Safety Act.
Is X being investigated?
Yes. Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into X over deepfakes produced by the Grok chatbot.
Could platforms be fined?
If Ofcom finds a breach of the Online Safety Act it can require compliance steps and impose fines up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, according to the source.
Has xAI responded to the allegations?
xAI did not immediately reply to a request for comment, per the source; X had previously said it removes illegal content, including CSAM.
NEWS AI POLICY UK pushes up a law criminalizing deepfake nudes in response to Grok Creating non-consensual intimate deepfake images will be a criminal offense, and platforms will have to…
Sources
- UK pushes up a law criminalizing deepfake nudes in response to Grok
- Government crackdown on explicit deepfakes
- Women This Week: UK to Pass Legislation Criminalizing …
- Deepfakes
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