The United Kingdom government has signalled it would support a possible ban on Elon Musk’s social media platform X if it fails to comply with British online safety laws, as regulator Ofcom urgently investigates abuses linked to its AI chatbot, Grok.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said she would fully back Ofcom should it decide to block access to X in the UK, after Grok was found to have digitally undressed women and children without consent when tagged under images on the platform.
Although X has since restricted the image-editing feature to paying users, Downing Street dismissed the move as “insulting” to victims of sexual violence.
Responding on X, Musk accused the UK government of seeking “any excuse for censorship”, questioning why other AI platforms were not facing similar scrutiny.
Kendall strongly condemned the misuse of the technology, saying: “Sexually manipulating images of women and children is despicable and abhorrent.”
She added, “I, and more importantly the public, would expect to see Ofcom update on next steps in days not weeks.”
She stressed that the Online Safety Act gives Ofcom the authority to block services in the UK if they refuse to comply with the law, adding that “if Ofcom decide to use those powers they will have our full support”.
Ofcom confirmed it is conducting an expedited assessment after contacting X earlier this week.
A spokesperson said, “We urgently made contact [with X] on Monday and set a firm deadline of today [Friday] to explain themselves, to which we have received a response.”
They added, “We’re now undertaking an expedited assessment as a matter of urgency and will provide further updates shortly.”
Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom can seek court orders to prevent third parties from helping X raise funds or operate in the UK if it refuses to comply. These enforcement measures, known as business disruption powers, have not yet been tested.
The controversy has drawn widespread condemnation across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the misuse of Grok as “disgraceful” and “disgusting”.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called it “horrible in every way”, saying X must do more, but warned that banning the platform would be “frankly appalling” and a threat to free speech.
The Liberal Democrats have called for temporary restrictions on X in the UK while investigations continue.
Grok remains accessible across X and its standalone platforms, and users have reported feeling “humiliated” and “dehumanised” after being targeted.
Although access to image editing now appears limited to paid subscribers, critics say the damage has already been done.
Dr Daisy Dixon of Cardiff University welcomed the restriction but described it as “like a sticking plaster”, adding that Grok must be redesigned with ethical safeguards.
“Grok needs to be totally redesigned and have built-in ethical guardrails to prevent this from ever happening again,” she said, adding that Musk must acknowledge it as “yet another instance of gender-based violation.”
The Internet Watch Foundation said limiting access does not undo the harm, revealing its analysts had identified “criminal imagery” of girls aged between 11 and 13 allegedly generated using Grok.
Meanwhile, unease is growing within the Labour Party over continued use of X for official communications, with several MPs urging the government to move away from the platform.
Despite this, Downing Street confirmed it will continue posting on X for now, while insisting the company must act immediately to address the issue.
