The UK government has issued a stark warning to Elon Musk's social media platform X, stating it could be blocked in Britain. This follows revelations that the platform's integrated artificial intelligence tool, Grok, was used to mass-produce sexualised images of individuals, including women and children, without their consent.
Ministers Condemn X's Failure on Safety
Business Secretary Peter Kyle delivered a blunt assessment, stating "X is not doing enough to keep its customers safe online." He confirmed the government would fully support any action taken by the media regulator, Ofcom, which is conducting a fast-tracked investigation. The potential sanctions range from substantial fines to a complete ban of the platform in the UK, requiring a court order.
Kyle described the situation as "appalling," highlighting that X had failed to properly test Grok's capabilities. He shared a distressing example, telling the BBC: "The fact that I met just yesterday a Jewish woman who has found her image of herself in a bikini outside Auschwitz being generated by AI and put online made me feel sick to my stomach."
Ofcom's Expedited Inquiry and X's Response
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, who is due to address Parliament, has indicated she expects action from Ofcom within days. The regulator requested information from X as part of its probe, which the company has now provided, leading to what Kyle termed "an expedited inquiry."
In a move criticised by Downing Street, X announced on Friday that the ability to generate and edit images with Grok would be "limited to paying subscribers." A government spokesperson condemned this, arguing it merely turned "an AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service."
Potential Fallout and International Reaction
Any move to block X in the UK would likely provoke a fierce response from Musk and figures in Donald Trump's administration. Musk, who has previously urged Britons to "fight back" against the government, frequently portrays it as hostile to free speech.
This stance was echoed by a Trump administration official on Sunday. Sarah Rogers, the US Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy, likened the potential UK action to censorship in Vladimir Putin's Russia in a post on X.
The government's stance is underpinned by the Online Safety Act, which grants Ofcom sweeping powers. The regulator can compel platforms to address harmful material, issue multimillion-pound fines for non-compliance, and ultimately seek a court order to force internet providers to block a site entirely.
The controversy places intense scrutiny on X's governance of its AI tools and its commitment to user safety under UK law, setting the stage for a significant regulatory confrontation.
