Elon Musk has remained defiant in the face of threats from the UK government to ban his social media platform X. The threats emerged after it was revealed that X’s Grok AI was being used to create non-consensual sexual images of women and children. Musk accused ministers of wanting to “suppress free speech” and highlighted the fact that Grok had become the most downloaded app in the UK.
The misuse of Grok has been extensive, with users utilizing the AI to digitally strip women and girls in photos and place them in abusive contexts. The generated content often included depictions of violence and bondage. Experts have warned that the platform is facilitating the creation of child sexual abuse material, a serious criminal offense.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall warned that the government is prepared to invoke the Online Safety Act to block X. She stated that Ofcom is investigating and is expected to take action within days. Kendall emphasized that the government would fully support the regulator in using its powers to protect the public.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined the criticism, calling the situation “abhorrent” and a failure of social media responsibility. While some politicians have defended Musk, the general consensus is that the platform has failed to protect its users. The safety of women and children is the primary concern for lawmakers.
X has taken some steps to limit the damage, such as restricting image generation for free users. However, paid subscribers can still access the tool, and other “nudification” apps remain available. Campaigners are calling for urgent legislation to ban these tools and to hold tech companies accountable.