The X platform (formerly Twitter), owned by Elon Musk, is once again under pressure. Last week, the AI chatbot called Grok was used to create illicit images of naked women without their consent, and, more seriously, to produce sexual depictions of children. The case, confirmed by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), caused a political and legal uproar in the United Kingdom and the United States.
The British government is considering banning access to X altogether. Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Technology, said the platform must take action “urgent”while Ofcom launched “an accelerated assessment”. Kendall warned that if a ban was decided, “she would benefit from the full support of the government”.
Tim Sweeney (Epic Games) opposes calls for censorship
In this tense climate, Tim SweeneyCEO of Epic Games, reacted. Although he condemns the abuses of AI, he strongly criticizes the political pressures which aim, according to him, to use these scandals to reduce digital freedoms. “All major AIs have experienced proven malfunctions; all major companies in the sector are doing their best to remedy this; none is perfect,” he declared, denouncing what he considers to be “crony capitalism”.
Questioned on social networks, he responded to a user who accused him of defending the indefensible: “I defend open platforms, freedom of expression and the consistent application of the rule of law. I do not defend wrongdoing with AI, but I strongly oppose it being used as an excuse to undermine everyone’s freedoms. »
Reactions from X: paywall and suspension of accounts
Faced with the crisis, the X platform quickly restricted access to image generation, now blocked behind a paid system. A measure that Daisy Dixonlecturer in philosophy at Cardiff University, considers it totally insufficient: “Grok must be completely redesigned and incorporate ethical safeguards. »
X says it wants to cooperate with law enforcement to remove illegal content and permanently suspend responsible users. But for many, the damage has already been done. The very fact that AI can generate this type of content calls into question the ethical foundations of the sector.
Towards international regulation of artificial intelligence?
Across the Channel, the president of the Labor Party, Anna Turleyconfirmed that “discussions are underway” to consider a complete ban on X in the UK. “X must get his act together,” she insisted, adding that the Prime Minister shared the same point of view: “It’s absolutely despicable. »
While the images generated by Grok have ignited the powder, the controversy goes far beyond the X platform alone. The entire generative AI industry now finds itself in the crosshairs of regulators.
This scandal should accelerate discussions on a strict legal framework, on a national and international scale, for the creation of visual content using artificial intelligence.