What to Know About UK Legal Changes Aiming to Regulate AI-Generated Nude Images
LONDON (AP) — Laws that will make it illegal to create online sexual images of someone without their consent are coming into force soon in the U.K. This follows a global backlash over the use of Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok to create sexualized deepfakes of women and children.
Musk’s company, xAI, announced measures to prevent Grok from allowing the editing of photos of real people to portray them in revealing clothing in places where that is illegal. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the move, emphasizing that free speech does not equate to the violation of consent. He stated, “I am glad that action has now been taken. But we’re not going to let this go. We will continue because this is a values argument.”
Non-Consensual Deepfakes
The chatbot has faced scrutiny after it was used to generate thousands of images that undress people without their consent, including nude images and depictions of women and children in bikinis or sexually explicit poses. Critics argue that laws regulating generative AI tools are long overdue, asserting that the U.K. legal changes should have been enacted much sooner.
The U.K.’s media regulator, Ofcom, has launched an investigation into whether X has breached U.K. laws concerning the Grok-generated images of children being sexualized or individuals being undressed. Ofcom stated that such images may qualify as pornography or child sexual abuse material.
How the U.K. Is Tackling the Problem
Authorities are making legal changes to criminalize those who use or supply nudification tools. They are fast-tracking provisions in the Data (Use and Access) Act, making it a criminal offense to create or request deepfake images. This act was passed by Parliament last year but had not yet been implemented. The legislation is set to come into effect on February 6.
Justice Secretary David Lammy stated, “Let this be a clear message to every cowardly perpetrator hiding behind a screen: you will be stopped and when you are, make no mistake that you will face the full force of the law.”
Additionally, the government is criminalizing nudification apps as part of the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently in Parliament. This new offense will make it illegal for companies to supply tools designed to create non-consensual intimate images, targeting the problem at its source.
Further Warnings and Investigations
The ongoing investigation by Ofcom could result in X facing a fine of up to 10% of its qualifying global revenue, depending on the investigation’s outcome, and a possible court order blocking access to the site. Starmer has faced calls for his government to stop using X, with Downing Street stating they are keeping their presence on the platform “under review.”
Musk has asserted that Grok complies with the law, stating, “When asked to generate images, it will refuse to produce anything illegal, as the operating principle for Grok is to obey the laws of any given country or state.” He added that any unexpected outcomes from adversarial hacking would be promptly fixed.
