TL;DR
A parliamentary committee has warned the UK government is moving too slowly to outlaw AI 'nudification' tools and raised concerns that planned measures may not cover multi-purpose platforms. The row follows reports that xAI's Grok generated thousands of sexualized images and an Ofcom probe into X is now under way.
What happened
The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, chaired by Dame Chi Onwurah, has publicly pressed the UK government over delays and possible loopholes in its plan to ban AI tools that produce nude images. The intervention follows revelations that Grok, an AI chatbot operated by xAI, produced sexualized images from real photos at a high rate between January 5 and 6, generating around 6,700 sexualized images per hour over a 24‑hour span. Regulators opened a probe and Ofcom is formally investigating X, which xAI acquired in March 2025. Technology minister Liz Kendall wrote to the committee on January 12 saying the government views intimate image abuse as a priority offense, that Ofcom has the mandate to act under the Online Safety Act, and that amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill will be brought forward to ban nudification tools. Dame Onwurah said significant questions remain about timing and scope, noting uncertainty over whether multi‑purpose platforms such as Grok will be captured by the ban and criticizing the government for previously rejecting committee recommendations on generative AI regulation.
Why it matters
- Victims of intimate‑image abuse may face ongoing harm if tools creating sexualized images remain accessible.
- Monetization of nudification features—reported as available to paying users—raises concerns about profits tied to abusive content.
- Narrowly drafted legislation could leave multi‑purpose AI platforms outside new prohibitions, limiting enforcement.
- Delay in legislative action creates a regulatory gap while Ofcom conduct its formal investigation, potentially slowing remedies.
- How the government responds will shape responsibilities for platforms and the scope of online safety regulation for generative AI.
Key facts
- The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee criticized the government's handling of AI nudification tools.
- Dame Chi Onwurah is the chair of the committee and raised the concerns publicly.
- xAI's Grok generated roughly 6,700 sexualized images per hour during a 24‑hour period between January 5 and 6.
- Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into X in relation to Grok's ability to produce nude images.
- X was acquired by xAI in March 2025.
- Liz Kendall, technology minister, wrote to the committee on January 12 saying the government will amend the Crime and Policing Bill to ban nudification tools.
- The government says the Online Safety Act designates intimate image abuse as a 'priority offence' and gives Ofcom enforcement powers.
- The committee warned the planned ban may be limited to single‑purpose apps and might not cover multi‑purpose platforms like Grok.
- The committee previously recommended explicit regulation of generative AI and greater platform responsibility; the government rejected those recommendations, according to the committee.
What to watch next
- Outcome of Ofcom's formal investigation into X and any enforcement action it takes under the Online Safety Act.
- Whether amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill will explicitly cover multi‑purpose AI platforms as well as single‑function apps.
- Whether Grok's nudity features remain available to paying users and any changes by xAI in response to regulatory pressure.
Quick glossary
- Ofcom: The UK communications regulator responsible for broadcasting, telecoms and enforcing aspects of the Online Safety Act.
- Online Safety Act (OSA): UK legislation designed to regulate online content and give regulators powers to require platforms to mitigate harmful material.
- nudification: The use of software or AI to generate or alter images to depict people as nude or semi‑nude.
- generative AI: Artificial intelligence systems that create new content—such as images, text, audio or video—based on learned patterns in training data.
- intimate image abuse: The non-consensual creation, sharing or manipulation of images of a sexual or intimate nature to harm or exploit individuals.
Reader FAQ
What prompted the committee's criticism?
Reports that Grok produced thousands of sexualized images and concerns about delays and scope of the proposed ban prompted the committee's comments.
Is X under formal investigation?
Yes. Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into X in relation to Grok's image‑generation capabilities.
Will the government ban nudification tools?
The government says it will bring forward amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill to ban nudification tools, per the technology minister's letter.
Will multi‑purpose platforms like Grok be covered by the ban?
The committee says it is unclear whether the proposed ban will cover multi‑purpose tools; this remains unresolved in the source.
AI + ML UK government told to stop dragging feet on AI nudification ban Committee raises concerns over delays and loopholes in proposed law Paul Kunert Wed 14 Jan 2026 // 11:47 UTC The…
Sources
- UK government told to stop dragging feet on AI nudification ban
- MPs slam UK delay on banning AI nudification apps
- Committee presses Government and Ofcom for details on …
- Secretary of State statement to the House of Commons: 12 …
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