The UK government is bracing for a major confrontation with Elon Musk's social media platform X this week, as the scandal over its Grok AI tool being used to create sexualised deepfakes of women and children escalates. Tech Secretary Liz Kendall is expected to make a statement to MPs on Monday afternoon, intensifying pressure on the independent regulator Ofcom to take swift enforcement action.
Ofcom Expedites Inquiry as Ministers Express Fury
Ministers have expressed profound frustration with X's response to the crisis. Last Friday, the platform announced it would restrict access to the controversial AI image-generation feature to paid subscribers only. This move was interpreted by Downing Street as evidence that the company "had yet to grasp why this was so objectionable." In response, Liz Kendall declared that Ofcom must act "in days, not weeks."
Speaking on LBC radio on Monday morning, Business Secretary Peter Kyle explained the government's position. He stated that the law requires Ofcom, as the independent regulator, to enforce the rules. "Ofcom has requested information from X. I believe X has given Ofcom that information and Ofcom is now expediting an inquiry into the behaviour and decisions of X when it comes to operating in the UK market," Kyle said. He emphasised that Ofcom must use its powers "to the full extent of the law to keep people safe in this country."
Uncharted Legal and Political Territory
The situation represents uncharted territory for the UK's online safety regime. The Online Safety Act grants Ofcom sweeping powers to fine companies for serious breaches, with penalties reaching up to 10% of global annual turnover. In extreme cases, the regulator can apply to a court to have a platform like X blocked entirely in the UK. However, these core provisions are new and have never been tested in a high-stakes dispute with a global tech giant.
The case is also politically hazardous due to Elon Musk's affiliations. Although he left an advisory role in Donald Trump's administration last year, Musk remains a leading figure in the Maga movement and recently dined with the former president. In these circles, European regulatory actions are often viewed as an attack on American free speech principles.
This transatlantic tension was highlighted last week when US Vice President JD Vance told UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy that allowing an AI app to generate sexualised imagery of children was unacceptable. Yet, shortly after, a more junior US official, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers, attacked the UK online for "contemplating a Russia-style X ban to protect them from bikini images."
Parliamentary Focus on Digital Safety
The scandal is set to dominate the parliamentary agenda on Monday. Liz Kendall's statement to MPs is scheduled for after 3:30 pm. Meanwhile, other senior figures including Keir Starmer and Peter Kyle are conducting media engagements in London.
The government's strategy is clear: to apply maximum public and legal pressure through Ofcom while navigating the complex international politics surrounding one of the world's most influential tech platforms. The outcome will set a critical precedent for how the UK's landmark online safety laws are enforced against Silicon Valley behemoths.
