(qlmbusinessnews.com . Sat 10th Jan, 2026) London, UK —
Ofcom's Critical Review of Musk's X Social Network Amid AI Chatbot Controversy
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has expressed her support for Ofcom's potential move to restrict access to Elon Musk's social network, X, in the United Kingdom if it continues to flout online safety regulations.
Ofcom is currently in a critical phase of assessing the platform's AI chatbot, Grok, which has sparked controversy for digitally stripping individuals in images without their consent. Although X has recently limited this controversial image manipulation feature to its premium subscribers, the government has criticised the measure as a superficial gesture that fails to address the gravity of the offence against sexual violence survivors.
Musk retorted on X, accusing the UK government of seeking any pretext to impose censorship, highlighting a perceived inconsistency in the regulatory scrutiny of AI technologies.
“Sexually altering images of women and children is utterly reprehensible,” Kendall stated, underscoring the public's expectation for a swift response from Ofcom on the matter. She affirmed that the Online Safety Act empowers the agency to block services non-compliant with UK laws, a stance fully endorsed by her office.
An Ofcom spokesperson disclosed that the regulator had promptly engaged with X, setting a stern deadline for the platform to justify its actions. “We are now conducting a hastened review and will update the public imminently,” the spokesperson assured.
With the Online Safety Act as a backdrop, Ofcom could pursue legal measures to inhibit financial or operational support for X in the UK, marking a novel test of these business disruption provisions.
This incident has unified politicians across the spectrum in condemnation. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer branded the situation as “disgraceful” and “disgusting,” while Reform UK's Nigel Farage critiqued the platform's minimal corrective action but warned against outright prohibition as an infringement on free speech. Conversely, the Liberal Democrats have advocated for a temporary restriction on X pending investigation.
The controversy revolves around Grok, a tool that could, until recently, manipulate images in response to user prompts, leading to severe distress among those depicted scantily or without clothing. Despite X curtailing Grok's services to its paying members, concerns linger about the appropriateness and accessibility of such features.
Dr Daisy Dixon of Cardiff University and victim of Grok's misuse commented on the superficial nature of X's remedial steps, urging a complete ethical overhaul of the tool. The Internet Watch Foundation's Hannah Swirsky mirrored this sentiment, emphasizing the insufficiency of merely restricting access to a fundamentally harmful service.
In parallel, Labour MPs have voiced discomfort with the party's continued engagement with X, as leaked internal communications reveal a consensus for exploring alternative platforms to safeguard against the misuse of images, especially of women and children.
Despite the alterations made by X, Downing Street insists on more decisive action, arguing that the platform is capable of swift, impactful adjustments when motivated. The spokesperson likened X's hesitance to a hypothetical scenario where a media company would be expected to promptly address public outrage over inappropriate public advertisements.
As the discussion evolves, the UK's stance on regulating AI-driven content on social media platforms remains a focal point of national and international attention.
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