<\/p>\n
The government has urged the regulator Ofcom to use all its powers \u2013 up to and including an effective ban \u2013 against X over concerns about unlawful AI images created on the site.<\/p>\n
Ofcom’s powers include the ability to obtain a court order to prevent third parties from helping the Elon Musk-owned platform from raising money or from being accessed in the UK.<\/p>\n
This follows an ongoing backlash against the use of X’s AI Grok to digitally remove clothing from images of people.<\/p>\n
The possibility there could be sexualised images of children raised very specific concerns in government.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Addressing concerns over sexualised images of adults and children produced by Grok, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “This is disgraceful. It’s disgusting. And it’s not to be tolerated\u2026 Ofcom has our full support to take action in relation to this.”<\/p>\n
“It’s unlawful. We’re not going to tolerate it. I’ve asked for all options to be on the table,” he added in an interview with Greatest Hits Radio.<\/p>\n
Government sources told BBC News: “We would expect Ofcom to use all powers at its disposal with regards to Grok & X.”<\/p>\n
Ofcom’s powers under the Online Safety Act have been rarely used, but include a “very strong” ability to ask the High Court to effectively ban offending companies by preventing their access to technology and to funding through advertisers and other payments.<\/p>\n
That process normally requires an investigation, but can be short-circuited where there are serious harms, risks to children, and histories of non-compliance.<\/p>\n
A new Ofcom chair is also in the process of being recruited. They will be expected to take a much more robust approach to these matters amid newer concerns about internet safety and national security, arising from new technology and types of ownership.<\/p>\n
The Online Safety Act is also at the centre of some concerns from the Trump administration about the impact on US tech firms.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Ofcom said it had made “urgent contact” with X and xAI, which built Grok, and told the BBC it was investigating concerns.<\/p>\n