Rising AI deepfake concerns are forcing public bodies to rethink their presence on major social media platforms—and Belfast City Council is now at the center of that shift.
The council is preparing to suspend its use of X following mounting alarm over Grok, the platform’s AI tool, which has been linked to the creation of sexualised deepfake images. A formal decision was taken by the council’s strategic policy and resources committee and is expected to be ratified at a full council meeting in early February.
While the council does not plan to deactivate its account entirely, it intends to stop posting on X and redirect residents to alternative official channels.
Why AI Deepfake Concerns Triggered the Move
According to councillors backing the proposal, AI deepfake concerns—particularly around non-consensual explicit imagery—posed a safeguarding risk that public institutions could not ignore.
Green Party councillor Brian Smyth, who introduced the motion alongside SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite, said councils have a statutory responsibility to protect the public. Suspending activity, rather than deleting the account, was seen as the safest option to prevent impersonation or misuse of the council’s handle.
The proposal passed decisively, with only DUP representatives voting against it.
UK Scrutiny Intensifies Around Grok
The issue extends well beyond Belfast. X is currently under investigation by Ofcom after widespread reports that Grok was being used to generate sexualised AI deepfake images of real people.
In response to these AI deepfake concerns, X announced new safeguards, including restrictions on editing images of real individuals in revealing clothing—particularly in jurisdictions where such content is illegal. The company also confirmed that image-editing features within Grok would now be limited to paid users and geoblocked where required by law.
Also Read: AI-Generated Image of Mia Khalifa and Rowan Atkinson Goes Viral as Real
Stormont Departments Reconsider X Subscriptions
The debate has also reached Northern Ireland’s government departments. Of the nine Stormont departments, seven confirmed they currently maintain paid X subscriptions, costing more than £1,300 annually. These subscriptions reportedly provide enhanced security features, analytics, and two-factor authentication.
However, several departments—including health, education, infrastructure, and the economy—said their use of X is now under active review due to ongoing AI deepfake concerns. Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald described the misuse of AI to create explicit deepfakes as “abhorrent and deeply concerning.”
Other departments, including justice and agriculture, confirmed they do not hold X subscriptions, while the Department for Communities said it had no plans to suspend usage at this stage.
Political Divide Over the Suspension
Not everyone agrees with Belfast City Council’s approach. The DUP opposed the suspension, arguing it limits engagement with residents and unfairly singles out one platform when AI risks exist across the entire social media ecosystem.
Supporters of the move, however, say the council’s action sends an important signal. SDLP assembly member Cara Hunter—who previously left X after being targeted by a deepfake—praised the decision as a necessary and overdue response to escalating AI deepfake concerns.
A Warning Sign for Public Institutions
As generative AI tools become more powerful and accessible, this episode highlights a growing reality: governments and public bodies can no longer treat AI risks as theoretical.
For Belfast City Council, suspending X is less about politics and more about precaution. For others watching closely, it may be the first of many similar decisions as AI deepfake concerns continue to reshape how institutions engage online.
The message is becoming clear—trust, transparency, and safety are now as important as reach in the age of AI-driven social platforms.
Don’t miss out on our latest news—follow us for the latest AI news, breakthroughs, and insights that matter.