The UK government has enacted emergency legislation to criminalise the creation of sexually explicit deepfake images without consent, with the ban coming into force in a matter of weeks. The move follows a major public and political outcry over graphic images generated by Elon Musk's Grok artificial intelligence chatbot on the X platform.
Fast-Tracked Legislation and Government Stance
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy confirmed the new law, which will take effect on 6 February 2026. Ministers signed the statutory instrument in Parliament on Thursday 15 January, fast-tracking the measure just days after promising a new criminal offence. The standard 21-day implementation period will apply.
Announcing the ban, Mr Lammy delivered a stark warning to perpetrators. "I am repulsed by the disgusting, abusive behaviour we've seen online," he stated. "Let this be a clear message to every cowardly perpetrator hiding behind a screen: you will be stopped and when you are, make no mistake that you will face the full force of the law." The offence will make it illegal to either create or request a deepfake intimate image of an adult without their consent.
Pressure Mounts on X and Grok AI
The legislative push comes amid intense pressure on X, formerly Twitter, over its Grok AI tool's ability to produce sexualised images. The platform has now announced new restrictions, stating it will prevent Grok from "editing images of people in revealing clothes" and will block the generation of such images of real people in countries where it is illegal, including the UK.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, in his first post on X in a week, welcomed the platform's action but insisted on full compliance. "I welcome that X is now acting to ensure full compliance with UK law – it must happen immediately," he wrote. "Young women's images are not public property, and their safety is not up for debate." Speaking to broadcasters in Scotland, Sir Keir labelled the AI-generated images "absolutely disgusting" and framed the issue as a "values argument" against powerful tech companies.
Ongoing Scrutiny and Broader Protections
While X's new geoblocking measures add a layer of protection, they can potentially be circumvented using VPNs. The company stated the changes would help ensure "individuals who attempt to abuse the Grok account to violate the law or our policies can be held accountable."
Regulator Ofcom, which launched an investigation into the matter on Monday, welcomed X's restrictions but confirmed its probe would continue, seeking "answers into what went wrong and what's being done to fix it." The scandal has also led to Grok being banned in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Campaigners have called for more proactive government measures. Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, argued that social media platforms cannot be "left to regulate themselves." She warned: "The cost of inaction is too great, with countless women and girls harmed before Grok's image generation tools were disabled."
In a related development, Sir Keir Starmer signalled openness to considering an Australia-style social media ban for young people, stating all options were on the table for better protecting children online, including potential restrictions for under-16s.
