Ofcom says X still has "ongoing concerns" on illegal hate and terror content despite faster reviews
Ofcom said on 14 October that X met its review deadlines for illegal hate and terror content but that it still doubts how effectively X removes such material. It is assessing whether X breached the Online Safety Act.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Britain's media regulator Ofcom said on 14 October that it remained concerned about how Elon Musk-owned X handles illegal hate and terror content, and that it was assessing whether the platform breached online safety laws. CNAN “Britain's media regulator Ofcom said on Wednesday it remained concerned about Elon Musk-owned X's handling of illegal hate and terror content” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1Ofcom said the remainder of its investigation into X will focus on the effectiveness of X's response to illegal hate and terror content, after the platform strengthened protections for UK users earlier this year. CNAN “the remainder of its investigation into X will focus on the effectiveness of its response to illegal hate and terror content” Read at CNA ↗ Mixed · 2X's first quarterly report to Ofcom showed it had met its commitments to review suspected illegal hate and terror content within agreed timeframes, with response times better than in evidence examined earlier this year. CNAN “X's first quarterly report to Ofcom showed it had met commitments to review suspected illegal hate and terror content within agreed timeframes” Read at CNA ↗ City A.M.RC “Ofcom said X’s latest figures appeared to show improvements compared with evidence gathered earlier this year, with the platform meeting both targets.” Read at City A.M. ↗
Right · 1In May, X had committed to reviewing reports made through its dedicated UK reporting tool within an average of 24 hours, and to assessing at least 85 per cent of reports within 48 hours over a three-month period, according to City A.M. City A.M.RC “In May, X committed to reviewing suspected illegal hate and terrorist content reported through its dedicated UK reporting tool within an average of 24 hours.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Mixed · 2Ofcom nonetheless said it had "ongoing concerns" about how effectively X takes down such content and had received mixed reports about X's engagement with third-party experts. City A.M. reported that Ofcom would cross-check X's figures against its own testing, expects X to maintain its performance, and plans a further assessment early next year. CNAN “it had "ongoing concerns" about the effectiveness of X's efforts to remove illegal hate and terror content” Read at CNA ↗ City A.M.RC “Ofcom expects to publish a further assessment early next year.”“the regulator said it would cross-check the figures against its own testing and expected X to maintain its performance.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Mixed · 2The investigation was opened in January after reports that X's Grok AI chatbot was being used to create and share sexualised images, which could amount to illegal content. City A.M. described these as non-consensual images of women and children. CNAN “Ofcom opened its investigation in January after reports that Grok was being used to create and share sexualised images that could amount to illegal content.” Read at CNA ↗ City A.M.RC “launched in January after reports that the chatbot was being used to produce non-consensual sexual images of women and children.” Read at City A.M. ↗
Right · 1Ofcom said it had gathered extensive evidence using its formal powers. It is examining how X assessed the risks of illegal content, whether users could easily report it, and how it handled moderation decisions. If it finds reasonable grounds to believe X breached the law, it will issue provisional findings and let X respond. City A.M.RC “The investigation is looking into how X assessed the risks of illegal content appearing on its platform, whether users could easily report it and how the company handled moderation decisions.”“it will issue provisional findings before giving the company an opportunity to respond.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Mixed · 2Ofcom also said pornography had remained accessible to X accounts not verified as adult. X has since restricted content labelled as pornography to accounts that completed age verification. Separately, SpaceXAI (formerly xAI) added restrictions to the standalone Grok service, including barring UK users from viewing, generating or sharing pornographic content and stopping companion chatbots such as "Ani" from sexually explicit conversations. City A.M.RC “X has since introduced changes to ensure content labelled as pornography is restricted to accounts that have completed its age verification checks.” Read at City A.M. ↗ CNAN “SpaceXAI, formerly xAI, had introduced further restrictions to its standalone Grok AI chatbot service” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1CNA noted that Reuters had found Grok still generating sexualised images of people when prompted, even where users said the subjects had not consented. X did not immediately respond to CNA's request for comment. CNAN “Reuters had found Grok was still generating sexualised images of people when prompted, even where users explicitly said the subjects had not consented.”“X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.” Read at CNA ↗
Right · 1City A.M. placed the update amid tensions between the regulator and big tech firms: X, Meta and TikTok have recently challenged parts of Ofcom's information-gathering powers in court, and Meta has contested how fees and penalties are calculated. Under the Online Safety Act, breaches can bring fines of up to £18m or 10 per cent of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater. City A.M.RC “X, Meta and Tiktok have recently challenged aspects of Ofcom’s information-gathering powers in court, while Meta has separately contested how the regulator calculates fees and penalties.”“can face fines of up to £18m or 10 per cent of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater.” Read at City A.M. ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Wire-style, concise report of Ofcom's statement: improved response times but persistent concerns, plus Grok restrictions by SpaceXAI.
- Emphasis
- The scope of the remaining probe, Grok restrictions and Reuters' finding that Grok still produced sexualised images.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the May commitments (24-hour average, 85% within 48 hours), the court challenges by tech firms or the fine ceiling.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with a warning to X that it is still failing to tackle illegal content despite improvements, and places it in a wider clash between Ofcom and tech firms.
- Emphasis
- Specific targets X committed to, Ofcom's plan to cross-check figures, the legal challenges by X, Meta and TikTok, and potential fines.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention SpaceXAI's restrictions on the standalone Grok service or Reuters' testing of Grok.
- Charged language
- “warns”“sexualised deepfakes”“growing tensions”
What every side reports
- Ofcom said on 14 October it has ongoing concerns about X's handling of illegal hate and terror content.
- X's first quarterly report showed it met agreed review timeframes, with improved response times.
- Ofcom opened its investigation in January over Grok-generated sexualised images.
- Ofcom is assessing whether X breached its legal duties on illegal content.
Where accounts differ
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How to describe the investigation's scope
- Centre
- CNA says the remainder of the investigation will focus on the effectiveness of X's response to illegal hate and terror content.
- Right
- City A.M. says Ofcom is continuing its investigation into Grok-generated sexualised deepfakes, and separately warns X over hate and terror content.
Ofcom organisation
Says X met its review deadlines but it has ongoing concerns over takedown effectiveness; will cross-check figures, assess breaches of the Online Safety Act and publish a further assessment early next year.
““We have ongoing concerns around the effectiveness of X’s response to taking down illegal hate and terror content”, Ofcom said.” — City A.M.
“The regulator said it would now determine whether X had complied with its legal duties to protect people in Britain from illegal content.” — CNA
SpaceXAI Corp organisation
Per Ofcom, SpaceXAI introduced further restrictions on the standalone Grok service for UK users, including on pornographic content and sexually explicit companion chatbots.
“SpaceXAI, formerly xAI, had introduced further restrictions to its standalone Grok AI chatbot service” — CNA
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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CNAN ·
UK media watchdog probe of X to focus on response to hate content
Neutral Brief report that the rest of the probe will focus on X's response to hate and terror content.
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CNAN ·
UK media regulator says concerns persist over X's handling of illegal content
Neutral Straight report of Ofcom's statement, balancing improved response times against persistent concerns and noting X had not responded.
Right1 article
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Ofcom warns X over illegal content despite moderation improvements
Critical Frames the update as a warning to X and places it within the regulator's disputes with tech firms.
- 14 Oct 10:12 First CNAN UK media watchdog probe of X to focus on response to hate content
- 14 Oct 10:12 First CNAN UK media regulator says concerns persist over X's handling of illegal content
- 14 Oct 13:26 +3h 14m City A.M.RC Ofcom warns X over illegal content despite moderation improvements
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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