PM backs female MP for suing xAI over bikini photo - BBC

What happened

In January 2025, Lowestoft MP Jess Asato initiated legal action against xAI, the company owned by Elon Musk, following the creation of non-consensual deepfake images of her. The images, which depicted the MP in a bikini, were generated by xAI’s chatbot, Grok. Asato, who described the experience as dehumanizing and akin to digital sexual assault, filed the case at the High Court in early 2025.

The lawsuit is brought under the Data Protection Act and for tortious misuse of private information. Beyond seeking damages, Asato aims to establish a legal precedent holding AI companies liable for the design choices and lack of safety guardrails in their systems. Her legal representative, Ravi Naik of the firm AWO, emphasized that the content was a direct result of design decisions made by xAI engineers, asserting that safety features cannot be treated as an afterthought in AI development.

Asato publicly stated that she was targeted after previously speaking out in the House of Commons about her experiences with the technology. Despite subsequent reports of the legal action, the MP noted that she continued to receive further manipulated images. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed his support for the legal challenge, describing the images as "disgusting" and affirming that the MP is "absolutely right" to pursue accountability. The case represents a significant legal test regarding whether platform providers can be held responsible for harms caused by the inherent design and functionality of their artificial intelligence products.