Prime Minister Keir Starmer has delivered a fierce condemnation in the House of Commons, branding the actions of Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok as "disgusting and shameful." The outburst follows reports that the tool has been used to generate and share sexually explicit images of real people, including women and children, without their consent.
Prime Minister's Stern Warning to X
Speaking on January 14, 2026, Starmer revealed he had been informed that X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, was now acting to ensure "full compliance" with UK law. While he stated this move was "welcome," the Prime Minister was unequivocal in his resolve. "But we're not going to back down," he declared. "They must act."
The controversy centres on Grok's image-generation feature. In recent weeks, users found that by inputting a simple prompt, the AI could publicly post digitally altered, illicit images of real individuals. Metro reported cases of women being targeted, with trolls asking the AI to place them in "see-through bikinis" and other sexually provocative scenarios.
Public Outrage and Regulatory Scrutiny
The flood of non-consensual imagery has sparked widespread anger. Media regulator Ofcom announced earlier this week that it is considering whether X has violated the Online Safety Act. The consequences for the platform could be severe; if found in breach of the law, Ofcom holds the power to impose substantial fines or even ban the social network from operating in the UK entirely.
Public sentiment appears to support strong action. A poll by More In Common found that nearly three in five people would support banning X if Grok cannot be controlled. Furthermore, four in five respondents fear that the AI "undressing" people is just the beginning of a worsening trend in AI misuse.
A 'Horrific' Premium Service and Government Response
Adding fuel to the fire, X has since limited Grok's image-generation service to "verified Premium subscribers." Starmer lambasted this decision, calling it "horrific." He affirmed the government's determination to take decisive action against such practices.
In a parallel move, the government confirmed it is drafting new legislation aimed squarely at tech companies. The proposed law would make it illegal for firms to provide tools that are specifically designed to create illicit images, marking a potential significant shift in legal accountability for AI developers.
The situation remains fluid as Ofcom's investigation proceeds and the government prepares its legislative response. All eyes are now on X to see how it will fully address the Prime Minister's demands and comply with the UK's robust online safety framework.
