As concerns mount over the misuse of AI technology, the UK government’s initiative to combat deepfake pornography has gained support from key voices, including Christian policy group CARE and the Church of England.
Ofcom has launched an investigation into the social media platform X after reports surfaced about its Grok AI tool being used to generate explicit images, including those involving minors. The government has expressed its commitment to backing any measures Ofcom might take against X, which could include a ban.
Elon Musk, owner of X, has dismissed the controversy as a “censorship” attempt, having previously clashed with the government on various issues such as the Southport disturbances and the rape gangs scandal.
An extension of the current legislation against AI-generated pornographic content of minors to include adults is under government consideration. CARE’s online safety policy lead, Tim Cairns, emphasized the urgent need to outlaw these AI tools, highlighting their easy accessibility online. “In order to tackle this issue fulsomely… we would underline the need to expressly outlaw the artificial intelligence tools that allow sexual deepfakes to be created,” Cairns stated.
Cairns appealed for government support for a bill proposed by Conservative peer, Baroness Owen, which he hopes will be amended to include a ban on deepfake technology. He warned of the technology’s particular threat to women and girls, contributing to a culture of dehumanization.
The Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, echoed CARE’s concerns, condemning the availability of Grok’s capabilities. He stated, “The sexualised deepfakes of real individuals used without their consent is immensely damaging to the individuals’ dignity and the dignity of our society.” He advocates for swift legislative action to ban nudification apps.
Both CARE and the Bishop of Oxford support the government’s initiative to amend the Crime and Policing Bill to address these issues, urging immediate withdrawal of the service from X and a thorough investigation by Ofcom.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
