Prime Minister Keir Starmer said X is taking steps to comply with UK law after Ofcom opened an investigation into sexualised deepfake images produced by the Grok AI chatbot. Technology Minister Liz Kendall said a new law criminalising the creation of sexual deepfakes will come into force this week. X has said it limited certain image-editing requests to paying users, and the government warned it could take further action if necessary.
UK Prime Minister: X Taking Steps To Comply With UK Law After Ofcom Probe Into AI Deepfakes
A bus stop displays a poster put in place by protest group Everyone Hates Elon, calling for a boycott of Elon Musk's social media platform X, in London, Britain, January 14, 2026. REUTERS/Chris J Ratcliffe
LONDON, Jan 14 — Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Parliament on Wednesday that Elon Musk's social media platform X is taking steps to ensure full compliance with United Kingdom law after the media regulator Ofcom opened an inquiry into sexualised images generated by the Grok AI chatbot.
"I have been informed this morning that X is acting to ensure full compliance with UK law," Starmer said, adding that the government would be prepared to take further measures if the platform's actions prove insufficient.
Ofcom launched an investigation on Monday amid concerns that Grok was producing sexually intimate deepfake images, which could breach the regulator's duty to protect people in the UK from illegal content. The probe will examine whether the platform's policies and moderation systems adequately prevent and remove harmful imagery.
Technology Minister Liz Kendall said a new law making it an offence to create sexual deepfakes will come into force this week, calling such images "weapons of abuse" and stressing the need for stronger legal protections for victims.
X did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company previously said in January that it had limited image-editing requests to undress people to paying users as a restriction on some features.
Why it matters: The developments highlight growing regulatory scrutiny of generative AI and the responsibilities of platforms that deploy AI chatbots capable of producing manipulated imagery. Officials say legal and platform-level safeguards are needed to prevent abuse and protect individuals from non-consensual sexualised content.
Reporting by Muvija M; writing by Sam Tabahriti; editing by Sarah Young.
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