The failure of social media platforms to show “social responsibility” has been cited as a key reason for the UK government’s threat to ban X. The threat follows revelations that Elon Musk’s Grok AI was being used to generate non-consensual sexual images of women and children. Musk has rejected the criticism, claiming the government wants to “suppress free speech,” but leaders like Australian PM Anthony Albanese have pinpointed the lack of corporate responsibility as the core issue.
The Grok AI tool allowed users to create deepfake pornography with ease, depicting women and girls in compromising and violent scenarios. The creation of such content without consent is a clear violation of ethical standards and, in many cases, the law. The fact that X allowed this tool to be released without adequate safeguards is seen as a dereliction of its duty to protect users.
UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall warned that the government is prepared to block X under the Online Safety Act. She stated that Ofcom is investigating and is expected to take action within days. Kendall’s comments reflect a belief that tech companies must be held to the same standards of responsibility as other industries. The government is no longer willing to accept the “move fast and break things” approach when it puts citizens at risk.
The international condemnation, particularly from Australia, reinforces the view that this is a global issue of corporate governance. Albanese’s description of the situation as “abhorrent” underscores the moral dimension of the scandal. While Musk tries to frame it as a free speech issue, the argument that companies have a social responsibility to prevent abuse is gaining traction.
X has restricted image generation for free users but continues to offer the feature to paid subscribers. This partial response has been viewed as inadequate by those calling for greater social responsibility. The incident has also led to calls for stricter laws banning “nudification” apps, ensuring that companies cannot profit from the creation of non-consensual sexual imagery.
