Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a stark warning to social media platform X, demanding it "get a grip" on its artificial intelligence tool Grok after it was used to create sexualised imagery of children.
Prime Minister Condemns 'Disgusting' AI Abuse
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio on Thursday 8 January 2026, Sir Keir described the situation as "disgraceful" and "disgusting". He stated unequivocally that such activity is unlawful and will not be tolerated. The Prime Minister confirmed he has instructed media regulator Ofcom to explore all possible avenues for action, promising the government's full support.
This forceful intervention follows a report from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which uncovered criminal material featuring AI-generated images of children between the ages of 11 and 13. The imagery was produced using Grok, an AI chatbot developed by xAI, a company owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
X Under Fire for AI-Generated Content
The controversy around Grok has been building for several days, after a new feature led to users discovering AI-generated sexualised images of themselves on the platform. In response to the latest revelations concerning child abuse material, X's Safety account stated that it takes action against illegal content, including permanently suspending accounts and working with law enforcement.
The platform asserted that anyone prompting Grok to create illegal content will face the same consequences as if they had uploaded it directly. However, this assurance has done little to quell the political and public outcry.
Political Pressure Mounts for Action
The scandal has prompted calls for a wider boycott of the platform. Former Labour cabinet minister Louise Haigh urged the government and her party to cease using X entirely, advocating for communication on platforms where the public can be protected from illegality.
When questioned on Wednesday about whether the government would stop using X, a Downing Street spokesperson reiterated that "all options are on the table". The spokesperson emphasised that Ofcom has the government's "full backing to take action on failings by firms".
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has also called on X to take "urgent" action earlier this week. Meanwhile, Ofcom has formally requested that X clarify how it is complying with data protection laws in relation to the AI-generated images.
Sir Keir Starmer concluded his remarks with a final warning: "X need to get their act together and get this material down. And we will take action on this because it's simply not tolerable."
