Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into X’s AI tool, Grok, over it being used to create sexualised imagery of women and children.

The media watchdog has said it contacted the social media platform on Monday last week and set a firm deadline of last Friday to “explain what steps it has taken to comply with its duties to protect its users in the UK”.

The company replied by the deadline, and Ofcom has since carried out an “expedited assessment of available evidence as a matter of urgency”.

It added the formal investigation will look into whether X, owned by tech titan Elon Musk, has “failed to comply with its legal obligations under the Online Safety Act”.

Ministers have made it clear they would support Ofcom if it concludes that X should be banned in the UK.

But the Tories have said they do not think a ban would be the correct approach.

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