The social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, is currently embroiled in significant controversy over its artificial intelligence (AI) tool, Grok, which has been used to generate sexually explicit and violent images, including digitally altered pictures of individuals and children with their clothes removed. This widespread outcry has led to intense pressure on the UK government to take decisive action against the platform.

Following the revelations, X announced a restriction on Grok's image creation and editing functions, limiting them exclusively to paying subscribers. This move, however, was met with strong condemnation from Downing Street, which dismissed it as "insulting" to victims and "not a solution," effectively turning the creation of unlawful images into a "premium service." Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking on the issue, unequivocally described the content as "disgraceful," "disgusting," and "unlawful," demanding that X "get a grip" on the problem. He reiterated that "all options are on the table" for addressing the issue and pledged full government support for Ofcom, the UK's media regulator, to use its powers under the Online Safety Act. These powers include imposing fines of up to 10% of a company’s global turnover and, in severe cases, seeking a court order to block a website or app in the UK, which could amount to a de facto ban.

The controversy stems from Grok's image creation feature being updated in late December, leading to thousands of non-consensual sexualized images being created. Labour MP Jess Asato acknowledged that restricting universal access was a "step forward" but argued that allowing paying users to create such images still constituted "digital sexual assault." Further research by AI Forensics, a Paris-based non-profit, revealed that a separate "Grok Imagine" app, not integrated with X, continued to allow non-paying users to generate highly explicit and violent content, including pornographic videos and images depicting sexual acts and violence, without consent. This content was described as "significantly more explicit than the bikini trend previously observed on X."

The political response in the UK has been divided. Anna Turley, Labour party chair, confirmed ongoing government discussions about ministers' continued use of X, stating that many in politics are "evaluating our use of social media" to ensure a "safe space." Several prominent MPs and committees, including the Women and Equalities Committee, have already ceased using X for official communications, citing it as "not an appropriate platform." Louise Haigh, former transport secretary, called it "unconscionable" for the government to remain. Conversely, others, like James Lyons, a former director of communications to Starmer, argued that political communication requires engaging on all platforms to persuade people. No major parties have yet formally left the site.

The financial aspect of the platform has also come under scrutiny. The Liberal Democrats urged Reform UK MPs, including Nigel Farage, Lee Anderson, and Richard Tice, who receive payments from X for their posts, to donate this "tainted money" to charities combating sexual exploitation. Farage, while condemning the images, sidestepped direct questions about stopping payments, stating that posting "costs me several times [what I am paid] in salaries and staff."

The impact on victims and support organizations has been profound. Claire Waxman, the Victim's Commissioner, expressed concerns that X is no longer a "safe space" for victims and that the platform's enabling of abuse makes the fight against violence against women and girls "much harder." Her office is considering scaling back its presence on X. Several women's sector organizations, including Refuge, Women's Aid Ireland, and Victim Support, have already withdrawn from the platform due to increased levels of unchecked hate, misogyny, and abuse.

Adding an international dimension, Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican member of the US House of Representatives, issued a stark warning against any UK effort to ban X. She threatened to introduce legislation to sanction both Sir Keir Starmer and the UK as a whole if such a ban were implemented, likening it to past US disputes over free speech concerns. Luna claimed that critics of X were engaged in a "political war" against Elon Musk and free speech.

Despite these complex challenges and international pressures, the UK government maintains a firm stance, reiterating that X needs to "act and needs to act now" to address the proliferation of unlawful content, with all regulatory options remaining firmly on the table.