School considers leaving X over AI content fears

A primary school is considering closing its X account amid concerns that the platform's artificial intelligence tool, Grok, could be used to create sexualised images of real people, including children.

Yew Tree Primary School in Sandwell said the move was being considered following reports that Grok has been used to manipulate photographs by digitally removing clothing or placing people in suggestive poses.

The tool is currently being investigated by Ofcom over online safety concerns.

Head teacher Jamie Barry said: "We want to use social media to celebrate our school and our community, but it has to be on a platform that does not put our children or our staff at risk."

Yew Tree Primary set up its X account in 2019 as part of efforts to rebuild following a difficult Ofsted period.

"When I joined as head teacher, we wanted to get our school out into the wider community and share all the wonderful work that was happening here," Barry said.

"I'd used Twitter, as it was then, for a number of years, so we decided to set up an account to celebrate our school and share pictures of learning."

He said the account had since become an important communication tool for parents, carers and prospective families.

"It's not just useful for parents," he said. "It helps prospective families understand what our school is about. When Ofsted visit, it gives them a flavour of our values and our learning."

However, Barry said concerns about Grok went beyond the technology itself and focused on how X's leadership had responded to the allegations.

"If an organisation has a safety flaw, you would expect a robust and efficient response," he said.

"Elon Musk's suggestion that this is about the UK censoring free speech is extremely concerning. We want to use the platform, but not at the expense of safety."

School leaders have been holding detailed discussions about whether to pause or permanently close the account.

"It's such an established platform for us," Barry said. "Parents now expect updates there, so we don't want to disband it unnecessarily."

"But we're seeing reputable organisations pause or leave X altogether, and that leaves us with a real dilemma."

He said a decision was likely to be made soon.

"At this stage, we're leaning towards leaving - certainly pausing it for the time being."

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