UK Government Scrambles to Regulate X Amid Outcry Over AI-Generated Images
The UK government has been quick to act after nearly two weeks of public outcry over X's use of its AI tool Grok to manipulate images of women and children. The platform, owned by xAI, had come under fire for allowing users to generate non-consensual, sexually explicit content.
In a bid to appease lawmakers, X is said to be taking steps to comply with UK law, although the exact measures remain unclear. Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed this move, stating that "if so, that is welcome." However, he also emphasized that the government will not back down and will take necessary measures to strengthen existing laws and prepare legislation if needed.
Ofcom, the media regulator, has launched an independent investigation into X's handling of Grok. The company had initially restricted the @grok account, which was generating images of real people in revealing clothing. However, many users have expressed frustration that guardrails put in place by other AI providers appear not to be effective.
New polling shows that 58% of Britons believe X should be banned in the UK if it doesn't crack down on AI-generated non-consensual images. The Internet Watch Foundation has reported instances of users boasting about using Grok to create such content, including images of girls aged between 11 and 13.
X's CEO, Elon Musk, has denied any knowledge of naked underage images being generated by Grok, claiming that the AI tool only produces images according to user requests. However, critics argue that this excuse is not convincing given the platform's lax approach to regulating its content.
The government has also faced criticism for its slow response to the issue. The chair of the Commons select committee for science, innovation and technology, Chi Onwuruh, has questioned why it took so long to take action, saying that reports of Grok-generated deepfakes appeared in August 2025.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains unclear what specific measures X will take to address its AI tool's misuse. However, one thing is clear: the UK government must take decisive action to protect users from exploitation and ensure that social media platforms like X are held accountable for their content.
The UK government has been quick to act after nearly two weeks of public outcry over X's use of its AI tool Grok to manipulate images of women and children. The platform, owned by xAI, had come under fire for allowing users to generate non-consensual, sexually explicit content.
In a bid to appease lawmakers, X is said to be taking steps to comply with UK law, although the exact measures remain unclear. Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed this move, stating that "if so, that is welcome." However, he also emphasized that the government will not back down and will take necessary measures to strengthen existing laws and prepare legislation if needed.
Ofcom, the media regulator, has launched an independent investigation into X's handling of Grok. The company had initially restricted the @grok account, which was generating images of real people in revealing clothing. However, many users have expressed frustration that guardrails put in place by other AI providers appear not to be effective.
New polling shows that 58% of Britons believe X should be banned in the UK if it doesn't crack down on AI-generated non-consensual images. The Internet Watch Foundation has reported instances of users boasting about using Grok to create such content, including images of girls aged between 11 and 13.
X's CEO, Elon Musk, has denied any knowledge of naked underage images being generated by Grok, claiming that the AI tool only produces images according to user requests. However, critics argue that this excuse is not convincing given the platform's lax approach to regulating its content.
The government has also faced criticism for its slow response to the issue. The chair of the Commons select committee for science, innovation and technology, Chi Onwuruh, has questioned why it took so long to take action, saying that reports of Grok-generated deepfakes appeared in August 2025.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains unclear what specific measures X will take to address its AI tool's misuse. However, one thing is clear: the UK government must take decisive action to protect users from exploitation and ensure that social media platforms like X are held accountable for their content.
I mean, can you believe this? they're like "oh we'll just slap some rules on it" 
but what about all the ones who got messed up already? 
and what's with Elon Musk thinking that's an excuse? 
58% of Brits want X banned, omg what's wrong with people over there? 
I don't think it's about being "xenophobic" or anything, it's just common sense lol. AI-generated nudes for minors is a BIG DEAL and we need stricter regulations ASAP! 
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. And it's even more worrying that some people are proud to be using AI tools to make such content 
. I get why the UK government is scrambling to regulate X and their AI tool Grok, but it feels like they should've done something sooner 
. Now, with 58% of Britons wanting X banned if they don't sort this out, it's clear that more needs to be done 
. I just hope the government can come up with some solid measures to keep users safe online 
anyway, i think its crazy that 58% of brits want x banned if they dont crack down on these non-consensual images its only a matter of time before they get caught out again 
I get it, they're trying to appease the gov but like what's taking so long? 
I'm all for innovation but not at the expense of our safety and well-being 
especially when it comes to minors 
X's CEO needs to come clean about this whole situation, can't just deny everything 
. And now the government is scrambling to regulate it, but they should've been doing this sooner, you know? Like, August 2025 and still no action? That's not right 
.
. We need to be holding these companies accountable for their content and making sure they're protecting users from exploitation. It's time for some real leadership, you know? 
It's like they were waiting for someone to say "boo" before taking action.
. If that's the case, then why hasn't he taken down all the explicit content being generated by Grok? It's like he's trying to cover his own tracks.
those were the days... but times change, and we need to adapt 
. The question is, what will X do next? Will they take real action or just pay lip service? 
anyway i think its clear that the uk government needs to step up their game and set some real guidelines for social media platforms like x if not they're gonna get roasted 
. I mean, what kind of platform allows users to generate non-consensual images of kids? It's just disgusting 
. And now we're hearing that the CEO is denying any knowledge of this happening... like, come on Elon! You can't just claim ignorance when you have no idea how your tool is being used 
...but let's be real, it's about time 
and I'm not surprised people are fed up. I mean, who wants to deal with AI-generated creeps? 
.