Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has declared he will not back down in a high-stakes confrontation with Elon Musk's social media platform X, over its artificial intelligence tool Grok being used to create sexualised deepfake images.
Ofcom Probe and Government Ultimatum
The row escalated this week after the UK communications regulator, Ofcom, launched a formal investigation into Grok. The probe focuses on claims the AI was used to generate non-consensual explicit imagery, including content depicting child sexual abuse. Ministers have expressed profound concern over the tool's capabilities.
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday 14 January 2026, Sir Keir condemned X's initial response to the backlash, which was to restrict the image-creation function to its premium subscribers. The Prime Minister labelled this move "horrific" and suggested the platform could face a ban in the UK if it failed to act decisively.
"The actions of Grok and X are disgusting and they're shameful," Sir Keir told the Commons. "We've made it clear that X has to act, but if not, Ofcom has our full backing and will introduce, and are introducing, legislation."
A Reported Climbdown and Immediate Backlash
Following the government's pressure, Elon Musk – who had earlier accused the UK of "fascist" plans and attacking free speech – has reportedly removed the controversial function from Grok. Sir Keir acknowledged the development but remained steadfast.
"I have been informed this morning that X is acting to ensure full compliance with UK law. If so, that is welcome, but we're not going to back down. They must act," the Prime Minister stated.
The question that prompted this response came from Labour MP for Milton Keynes Central, Emily Darlington. She highlighted the abuse of creating nude images without consent, stating it was unacceptable "in real life or online".
In a chilling postscript, Ms Darlington revealed to The Independent that moments after her question in Parliament, online trolls submitted requests to Grok asking for AI-generated pictures of her in a bikini or stripped naked. Fortunately, the tool did not produce the images, indicating a possible change had been implemented.
New Laws and the 'Monetisation of Abuse'
The government is simultaneously fast-tracking legal measures to address the crisis. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall announced that a new criminal offence for creating non-consensual sexual deepfakes would be brought into force this week under the Data (Use and Access) Act. However, a government spokesman clarified that while the legal steps are being taken immediately, the offence will not formally come into effect until February.
Ms Kendall strongly criticised X's earlier decision to limit Grok's problematic features to paying customers, accusing the platform of effectively "monetising abuse".
Emily Darlington MP framed the episode as proof that the UK can enforce its laws and stand up to global tech giants. She pointed to the UK's influence as a major English-language hub, alongside the US, as a source of leverage. Looking ahead, she warned the "next battle" would concern deepfakes and algorithmic bias during elections.
If X's reported restriction of Grok holds, it would mark a significant victory for Sir Keir's government in one of its first major regulatory clashes with Big Tech.
