Starmer issues ultimatum to Musk vowing ‘fast action’ from government to end Grok abuse on X
It comes as Ofcom announces an investigation into the way X’s AI tool was used to ‘undress’ images of people without consent and sexualise women and children
Sir Keir Starmer has issued an ultimatum to Elon Musk, announcing that the government will take “fast action” to deal with the abuses of the AI tool Grok on X (Twitter).
The prime minister revealed his intentions to the weekly meeting of the Labour Parliamentary Party on a day that Ofcom launched an investigation into Mr Musk’s social media platform X after Grok was used to generate sexualised images of women and children.
Sir Keir told MPs and peers: “The actions of Grok and X are absolutely disgusting and shameful. Protecting their abusive users, rather than the women and children who are being abused shows a total distortion of priorities.
“So let me be crystal clear, we won't stand for it, because no matter how unstable or complex the world becomes, this government will be guided by its values. We'll stand up for the vulnerable against the powerful.”
In a direct message to the platform’s owner, Mr Musk, he added: “If X cannot control Grok, we will – and we'll do it fast because if you profit from harm and abuse, you lose the right to self-regulate.”
In an earlier response to ministers’ threats, Mr Musk accused the government of being “fascist” and of trying to curb free speech.
Responding to a post on X claiming the UK arrests more people for social media posts than “any other country on Earth”, Mr Musk wrote: “Real fascism is arresting thousands of people for social media posts.”
The move by the PM comes after he has suffered more than 18 months of online abuse at the hands of Mr Musk on his X platform, where the billionaire has accused Sir Keir of being complicit in the abuse of girls and popularised the insult “two-tier Keir”.
Already, technology secretary Liz Kendall has encouraged Ofcom to use “the full range of its powers” and potentially ban X in the UK.
Such a move is likely to spark a trade war with the US with senior Trump administration figures, including vice-president JD Vance, accusing the UK of attacking free speech.
Meanwhile, allies of Mr Musk in the UK have opposed the banning of Grok, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
But announcing its investigation, Ofcom, the UK regulator, said it was responding to “deeply concerning” reports about the images and will investigate whether X has complied with UK laws.
In a statement, Ofcom said it will determine whether X “has complied with its duties to protect people in the UK from content that is illegal”.
The decision to launch the formal investigation was made after Ofcom reviewed available evidence “as a matter of urgency”. It was launched under the Online Safety Act, which gives the regulator the power to fine X or ban it.
The investigation has been welcomed by Ms Kendall. Making a statement in the Commons on Monday, she said the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) "reports criminal imagery of children as young as 11, including girls sexualised and toddlers".
She continued: "This is child sexual abuse. We've seen reports of photos being shared of women in bikinis, tied up and gagged, with bruises, covered in blood, and much, much more.
"Lives can and have been devastated by this content which is designed to harass, torment and violate people's dignity. They are not harmless images. They're weapons of abuse, disproportionately aimed at women and girls, and they are illegal."
The platform has faced global backlash in recent days after its AI tool was repeatedly used to generate undressed images of people without consent.
The IWF also confirmed the tool had been used to create “criminal imagery of children aged between 11 and 13”.
The formal investigation comes after the regulator made “urgent contact” with X on 5 January to ask it to explain what steps it will take to protect UK users and set a “firm deadline” of 9 January, which it said X had met.
The regulator said: “There have been deeply concerning reports of the Grok AI chatbot account on X being used to create and share undressed images of people – which may amount to intimate image abuse or pornography – and sexualised images of children that may amount to child sexual abuse material.”
On Friday, X appeared to have changed Grok’s settings, with the chatbot telling users that only paid subscribers could ask it to manipulate images.
However, reports suggested this only applied to those making requests in reply to other posts, and other ways of editing or creating images, including on a separate Grok website, remained open.
The use of Grok to create sexually explicit content has prompted a wave of concern among ministers who have expressed support for a UK ban if Ofcom decided to block access to the platform.
Ms Kendall said: “I welcome Ofcom’s urgency in launching a formal investigation today. It is vital that Ofcom complete this investigation swiftly because the public – and most importantly the victims – will not accept any delay.”
Trade secretary Peter Kyle, who previously served as technology secretary, told Sky News X “is not doing enough to keep its customers safe online”.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said banning X is the “wrong answer”. Speaking before the investigation was launched, she said: “I’m not even sure what question it is that they’re answering.
“What we are seeing is a Labour government that did not have a plan, and they’re just throwing out random policies, probably to distract from the fact that they’re putting businesses in a very difficult position.
“What was happening was the business rates discussion, lots of pubs complaining, and then all of a sudden, Labour talks about banning X. I don’t think that’s a serious solution.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also expressed fears that the government will end up “suppressing free speech”.
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