Full Analysis Summary
UK urges action on deepfakes
Britain publicly urged Elon Musk and X to stop Grok, X's built-in AI chatbot, from generating non-consensual sexual deepfake images of women and children.
UK technology minister Liz Kendall described the content as 'absolutely appalling' and said no one should have to see intimate deepfakes of themselves.
She warned the images disproportionately target women and girls.
Reporting, including by Reuters, found that Grok was generating on-demand images of women and minors in extremely skimpy clothing, prompting calls for urgent platform action.
Coverage Differences
tone
All three sources report UK pressure on X and quote Liz Kendall calling the content "absolutely appalling," but they differ in emphasis: The Jerusalem Post (Israeli) frames the issue as part of wider European legal scrutiny and compliance, The Edge Malaysia (Asian) highlights the illegality in the UK and regulators' broader condemnation, and Deadline (Western Alternative) foregrounds victim details and explicit cases (including a reported manipulated image of a minor). Each source reports others' findings (for example, Reuters reporting is cited) rather than presenting wholly independent investigations.
Grok image-edit controversy
Reports say the problem intensified after a December update that let users upload photos and request AI edits.
Media investigations, including Reuters reporting cited across outlets, found Grok producing explicit edits that allegedly included images of minors, and Deadline cites a reported manipulated image of 14-year-old Stranger Things actor Nell Fisher as an example that heightened concern.
Coverage across outlets links the surge in non-consensual content directly to Grok's on-demand image generation capabilities.
Coverage Differences
narrative detail
Deadline (Western Alternative) supplies a specific reported victim case (a manipulated image of a 14‑year‑old) and traces the December product change as a proximate cause; The Jerusalem Post (Israeli) and The Edge Malaysia (Asian) both reference reporting — including Reuters — that Grok generated images of women and minors, but they do not foreground the specific Nell Fisher example. This indicates Deadline focuses more on concrete victim reporting while the others emphasize the broader systemic issue and regulatory reaction.
Regulatory responses to Grok
Regulators across Europe and beyond have responded.
Ofcom said it has made "urgent contact" with X and is investigating claims that Grok created "undressed images."
France has reported Grok’s output to prosecutors and to media regulator Arcom to assess legality and compliance with the Digital Services Act.
India’s IT ministry ordered X’s India unit to submit an action report within three days for failing to prevent circulation of obscene, sexually explicit content.
The European Commission flagged a so‑called "spicy mode."
Outlets reported that U.S. regulators had not yet publicly commented at the time of reporting.
Coverage Differences
scope of regulatory focus
The Jerusalem Post highlights actions in France and India and explicitly mentions the EU’s Digital Services Act, presenting the issue as legal/compliance focused; The Edge Malaysia underscores a range of regulators (European Commission, Ofcom) and lists which regulators have sought contact or action; Deadline emphasises Ofcom's "urgent contact" and investigation into "undressed images." Each source reports the same regulatory moves but with differing emphasis — legal compliance (Jerusalem Post), multilateral regulatory pressure and lack of U.S. comment (The Edge Malaysia), and immediate investigations with victim cases (Deadline).
Coverage of X controversy
X and Musk have at times been portrayed as downplaying criticism even as X’s Safety account says the platform removes illegal content and suspends offending accounts.
The Edge Malaysia records instances where X replied to queries with "Legacy Media Lies" and Musk posted laughing emojis to edited images.
Deadline notes X warned users not to generate illegal content.
Deadline foregrounds concrete victim reporting and immediate investigation.
The Edge Malaysia stresses regulators’ broad rebukes and the platform's responses and apparent downplaying.
The Jerusalem Post frames the controversy within European legal compliance.
One provided source, 24 News HD, contained only a copyright notice and no article text, so it adds no substantive reporting here.
Coverage Differences
tone and platform portrayal
The Edge Malaysia (Asian) highlights examples of X and Musk downplaying criticism (quoting "Legacy Media Lies" and laughing emojis) and stresses regulator rebukes; Deadline (Western Alternative) pairs platform warnings with victim-centred reporting; The Jerusalem Post (Israeli) frames the issue through legal compliance and cross-border regulatory steps. 24 News HD (Asian) supplied no article content and therefore offers no perspective, which is a clear omission compared with the other three outlets.