Elon Musk has asserted that critics of his social media platform, X, are “looking for any excuse for censorship.” This statement follows scrutiny of X’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, Grok, after it was used to create sexualized images of individuals without their knowledge or consent.
In response, Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, is conducting an urgent assessment of X, supported by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall.
However, the chairs of Parliament’s technology and media committees have voiced concerns that potential “gaps” in the Online Safety Act could impede Ofcom’s ability to effectively address the situation.
X has since restricted access to its AI image function to users with a paid monthly subscription, a move Downing Street has described as “insulting” to victims of sexual violence.
The BBC has reported on several instances where the free AI tool was used to undress women and place them in sexual contexts without their consent.
Secretary Kendall stated on Friday that she expects an update from Ofcom within days and that the government would fully support the regulator should it decide to block X in the UK. full support should it decide to block X in the UK.
Musk, in response, reposted numerous messages on X overnight that criticized the government’s condemnation of Grok, including one featuring AI-generated images of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a bikini.
“They just want to suppress free speech,” Musk wrote.
Ashley St Clair, the mother of one of Elon Musk’s children, told BBC Newshour on Friday that Grok had generated sexualized photos of her as a child.
The conservative influencer stated that her image had been digitally manipulated to appear “basically nude, bent over,” despite her explicit denial of consent to the creation of such images.
St Clair, who filed a lawsuit against Musk in 2025 seeking sole custody of their child, accused the social media site of “not taking enough action” to tackle illegal content, including child sexual abuse imagery.
“This could be stopped with a singular message to an engineer,” she said.
As of Friday morning, Grok informed users requesting alterations to images uploaded to X that “image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers,” adding that users “can subscribe to unlock these features.”
An Ofcom spokesperson stated on Friday: “We urgently made contact [with X] on Monday and set a firm deadline of today to explain themselves, to which we have received a response.”
“We’re now undertaking an expedited assessment as a matter of urgency and will provide further updates shortly.”
Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom’s powers include the ability to seek a court order to prevent third parties from assisting X in raising funds or from providing access to the platform in the UK, should the company fail to comply.
However, Dame Chi Onwurah, chairwoman of the innovation and technology committee, expressed her “concern and confusion” regarding how the matter is “actually being addressed” and has written to Ofcom and Secretary Kendall seeking clarification.
Dame Chi stated that it was “unclear” under the Online Safety Act whether the creation of such images using AI was illegal, as well as the extent of social media platforms’ responsibility for content shared on their sites.
“The act should really make something so harmful to so many people clearly illegal, and X’s responsibility should be clear,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Caroline Dinenage, chairwoman of the culture, media and sport committee, similarly expressed a “real fear that there is a gap in the regulation.”
“There are doubts as to whether the Online Safety Act actually has the power to regulate functionality – that means generative AI’s ability to nudify someone’s image,” she told BBC Breakfast.
The use of Grok to generate non-consensual sexualized images has drawn condemnation from politicians across the political spectrum:
Elsewhere, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed Starmer’s sentiment, describing the material as “completely abhorrent.”
“It, once again, is an example of social media not showing social responsibility,” Albanese said, adding that Australia’s digital safety commissioner was investigating the situation.
“Australians and indeed, global citizens deserve better.”
Meanwhile, Grok was temporarily suspended in Indonesia on Saturday. The country’s digital minister stated that “non-consensual sexual deepfakes [were] a serious violation of human rights, dignity and the security of citizens in the digital space.”
It comes after government urged Ofcom to use all its powers – up to and including an effective ban – against X.
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