Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned that social media platform X could lose its “right to self-regulate…reports Asian Lite News
The UK government is set to bring into force legislation that will make it illegal to create non-consensual intimate images, following growing concern over the use of Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot, the BBC reported.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned that social media platform X could lose its “right to self-regulate” if it failed to address the issue, saying the government would step in if the platform could not control the chatbot.
The move follows reports that Grok has been used to alter images of people without their consent, including women and children. The government is also preparing legislation that would make it illegal to supply online tools designed to create such content.
Earlier, media regulator Ofcom announced it had launched an investigation into X over what it described as “deeply concerning reports” linked to Grok’s image-manipulation capabilities. If X is found to have breached the law, Ofcom could impose a fine of up to 10% of its global annual revenue or £18 million, whichever is higher, according to the BBC.
In serious cases, the regulator could also seek a court order requiring internet service providers to block access to X in the UK altogether.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall urged Ofcom to conclude its investigation swiftly and publish a clear timeline. She said AI-generated intimate images created without consent were not harmless but “weapons of abuse”.
While it is already illegal to share deepfake images of adults in the UK, legislation passed in June 2025 under the Data (Use and Access) Act—which criminalises the creation or request of such images—has yet to be enforced. Kendall told MPs the offence would be brought into force this week and treated as a priority under the Online Safety Act, the BBC said.
