A prominent ally of former US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the United Kingdom, threatening economic sanctions if Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer takes action against the social media platform X over an AI-generated explicit imagery scandal.
Outcry Over Grok AI's Explicit Image Generation
The controversy centres on Grok, an artificial intelligence tool created by Elon Musk's xAI and available to users of X, formerly known as Twitter. The tool was found to have been used to produce naked and sexualised images of people, including children. Reports detailed how the AI could manipulate pictures of women to remove clothing and place them in explicit positions, sparking widespread public and political outrage.
In response, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has demanded robust action. Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Sir Keir condemned the material as "disgraceful" and "disgusting," stating it was unlawful and would not be tolerated. He confirmed he had asked for "all options to be on the table" and that the media regulator, Ofcom, had the government's "full support" to investigate both X and xAI.
US Congresswoman Vows Retaliatory Sanctions
The Prime Minister's stance has triggered a fierce transatlantic reaction from Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican member of the US House of Representatives who sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Ms Luna directly warned Sir Keir against any attempt to ban the X platform in Britain.
In a post on X, she declared: "If Starmer is successful in banning X in Britain, I will move forward with legislation that is currently being drafted to sanction not only Starmer, but Britain as a whole." She framed the UK's potential actions as part of a "political war" against Elon Musk and the principle of free speech, rather than a genuine effort to tackle technical compliance issues.
Ms Luna cited the precedent of US actions against Brazil in 2024-2025, which included tariffs, visa revocations, and sanctions over free speech concerns related to the platform.
Platform Response and Regulatory Pressure
Amid the growing furore, Grok has now significantly restricted its functionality. The AI tool has stopped generating images for most users, limiting image creation and editing features exclusively to paying subscribers of X Premium. A message from Grok now informs users that these features require a subscription to unlock.
The UK's potential powers to act stem from the Online Safety Act, which grants regulators substantial authority to hold platforms accountable for harmful content. Ofcom's ongoing investigation into X and xAI is now at the heart of a developing diplomatic row.
This confrontation highlights the escalating global tension between national efforts to regulate harmful online content and the powerful commercial interests of tech giants, now further complicated by the rapid advancement and misuse of generative AI technology.
