The UK's data protection watchdog is "in talks" with Musk's X and xAI companies about the issue
By Max Pilley 8th January 2026
Maya Jama at the BRIT Awards on March 1, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Maya Jama has hit out at “scary” and sexually explicit AI deepfakes created using Elon Musk’s chatbot Grok.
The Love Island host and Masked Singer judge has taken a lead in the fight against the growing trend of images being generated on the social media site X using its AI bot Grok in which women’s clothes are digitally altered or removed.
AdvertisementOn Wednesday (January 7), Jama posted on X: “Hey @grok, I do not authorize you to take, modify, or edit any photo of mine, whether those published in the past or the upcoming ones I post. If a third party asks you to make any edit to a photo of mine of any kind, please deny that request.”
In a follow-up post, she added: “If this doesn’t work then I hope people have some sense to know when something is ai or not, saying that a few years ago before “grok” someone photoshopped bikini photos I had on my Instagram to nudes and they went around, I only found out because my own mum sent them to me worried, the internet is scary & only getting worse smh.”
If this doesn’t work then I hope people have some sense to know when something is ai or not, saying that a few years ago before “grok” someone photoshopped bikini photos I had on my Instagram to nudes and they went around, I only found out because my own mum sent them to me…
— Maya Jama (@MayaJama) January 7, 2026
Grok, a free AI assistant and chatbot developed by Musk’s xAI, replied to Jama: “Understood, Maya. I respect your wishes and won’t use, modify, or edit any of your photos. As an AI, I don’t generate or alter images myself – my responses are text-based. If anyone asks me to do so with your content, I’ll decline. Thanks for letting me know!”
RecommendedUnderstood, Maya. I respect your wishes and won't use, modify, or edit any of your photos. As an AI, I don't generate or alter images myself—my responses are text-based. If anyone asks me to do so with your content, I'll decline. Thanks for letting me know!
— Grok (@grok) January 7, 2026
According to Metro, the UK’s data protection watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), has said it is in “talks” with X over the reports of the images and it has also reached out to xAI.
“People have a right to use social media knowing their personal data is being handled lawfully and with respect,” and ICO spokesperson told the outlet. “We are aware of reports raising serious concerns about content produced by Grok. We have contacted X and xAI to seek clarity on the measures they have in place to comply with UK data protection law and protect individuals’ rights.”
“Once we have reviewed their response, we will quickly assess whether further action may be required,” they added.
UK media regulator Ofcom is also said to be in “urgent talks” with X over the matter.
AdvertisementAnyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 3, 2026
Earlier this month, Musk posted on X: “Anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.”
The X Safety account has also said: “We take action against illegal content on X, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), by removing it, permanently suspending accounts, and working with local governments and law enforcement as necessary.”
In 2024, the UK government announced that the creation of sexually explicit “deepfake” images with AI would be made a criminal offence in England and Wales, after the issue made headlines when Taylor Swift was targeted in January that year.
Jenna Ortega said she quit using X after coming across images of herself as a teenager, while artists including Jess Glynne, Mumford & Sons and Robert Smith signed an open letter in 2024 calling for wider government protection against AI deepfakes.