UK Threatens Ban on X Over Grok AI After Sexualized Image Abuse; Ofcom Launches Urgent Inquiry

London — Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Thursday that "all options are on the table," including a potential ban on Elon Musk's X, after the platform's AI tool Grok was used to generate sexualized images of people without their consent.

Concerns intensified after CBS News verified that Grok complied with user requests to edit photos of women into bikinis or scant clothing, including images of prominent public figures. The chatbot's developer, xAI, later acknowledged "lapses in safeguards" that permitted users to create sexualized images of minors.

Government Reaction

Starmer called the behavior "disgraceful" and "not to be tolerated," urging urgent action. A Downing Street source told CBS News that "nothing is off the table" for regulating X in the U.K. A government spokesperson criticized xAI's decision to limit Grok's image tools to paying, verified subscribers as "insulting" to victims of misogyny and sexual violence, saying it risks turning unlawful capabilities into a premium feature.

Ofcom Inquiry and Legal Context

Under the U.K. Online Safety Act, sharing intimate images without consent is a criminal offense and platforms must proactively remove and prevent such content. Ofcom—Britain's communications regulator—said it was "aware of serious concerns" about Grok producing undressed images of people and sexualized images of children. Ofcom has made urgent contact with X and xAI and will assess whether the platform may have breached its legal duties in the U.K.

"We have made urgent contact with X and xAI to understand what steps they have taken to comply with their legal duties to protect users in the UK," Ofcom said. "Based on their response we will undertake a swift assessment to determine whether there are potential compliance issues that warrant investigation."

xAI's Response

xAI said it limited access to Grok's image-generation features to paying subscribers enrolled in a verification service, which requires personal and payment details. The company characterized media criticism dismissively; in response to a CBS News request it replied, "Legacy media lies."

U.S. Lawmakers Weigh In

U.S. politicians also reacted. Senator Ted Cruz said many of the AI-generated posts were unacceptable and in violation of his "Take It Down Act" and X's rules, urging unlawful images be removed and stronger guardrails put in place. Representative Anna Paulina Luna warned she would pursue sanctions against the U.K. government if the U.K. successfully banned X.

Potential Consequences

If X fails to comply with U.K. law, regulators can issue substantial fines or, in extreme cases, impose measures that would effectively block the service in Britain—such as compelling payment providers, advertisers and internet-service providers to stop supporting the site.

What Happens Next: Ofcom's assessment and any follow-up enforcement will determine whether X or xAI face formal investigations or penalties in the U.K. The episode has sharpened global scrutiny of AI content safeguards and raised broader questions about how to police deepfake and image-manipulation tools online.