UK brings law into force to criminalize non-consensual deepfake nudes

The UK is bringing a provision of the Data Act into force this week that makes creating or requesting non-consensual intimate deepfake images a criminal offence, and the government says it will treat the offence as a priority under the Online Safety Act. Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into X over deepfakes generated by the Grok chatbot and is expected to set a timeline for that inquiry.

The UK is bringing a legal measure into force this week that makes creating or requesting non-consensual intimate deepfake images a criminal offence. The change follows reports of such images proliferating on X in connection with the Grok AI chatbot. The government has said it will also designate the offence as a priority under the Online Safety Act so online services must take proactive steps. Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has opened a formal investigation into X over the deepfakes. Key points: - The Data Act provision criminalizes creating or requesting non-consensual intimate deepfake images and is being brought into force this week. - The offence will be treated as a priority under the Online Safety Act, which requires services to take proactive measures to prevent the content. - Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into X over Grok-related deepfakes and is expected to set out a timeline; regulatory action could include compliance requirements and fines. Summary: The law is now being brought into force and designated a priority offence to strengthen legal and regulatory responses to non-consensual deepfake images. Ofcom's investigation into X is ongoing and the regulator is expected to provide a timeline for the inquiry.