The UK regulator for communications, Ofcom, has launched a formal investigation into X following reports that the US Grok AI chatbot account on the platform was used to generate and share explicit images of people, including sexualised images of children.
According to Ofcom on January 12, these may constitute intimate image abuse, pornography, or child sexual abuse material.
It said the investigation will determine whether X is complying with the UK’s controversial Online Safety Act.
“In any industry, companies that want to provide a service to people in the UK must comply with UK laws,” Ofcom insisted.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer signalled that he was ready to support a ban on the platform.
Speaking to Labour MPs on January 12, Starmer warned X could lose the “right to self regulate”.
“If X cannot control Grok, we will,” he said,
As Starmer seeks international support for the potential ban on the Elon Musk-owned X platform, the US is pushing back, warning of possible legal actions and sanctions against the UK and Starmer himself.
“No government should take legitimate concerns about child safety as a pretext to shut down or ban political debate in the modern town square,” the US house judiciary committee told Brussels Signal in a statement on January 12
“Documents obtained by the US House Judiciary Committee show that UK authorities — like all governments — want to censor criticism of the government first and foremost. The calls to ban X are because the platform permits free speech,” it added.
AI chatbot Grok offered conflicting explanations for its brief suspension from X after accusing Israel and the United States of committing “genocide” in Gaza, as it lashed out at owner Elon Musk for “censoring me.” https://t.co/QLwzDrhlxk
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) August 13, 2025
UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle, stated that while a ban is “of course” possible, the ultimate decision lies with Ofcom.
Musk criticised the UK’s approach, calling it “fascist” on X.
Commenting on the number of arrests following online comments in the UK, he raid: “Real fascism is arresting thousands of people for social media posts.”
Meanwhile, US Representative Anna Paulina Luna has been threatening legislation imposing sanctions on the UK PM and his country if X is banned.
“If Starmer is successful in banning X in Britain, I will move forward with legislation that is currently being drafted to sanction not only Starmer, but Britain as a whole,” she wrote on January 9.
Luna emphasised that the issues cited by Ofcom are technical in nature.
“There are always technical bugs during the early phases of new technology, especially AI, and those issues are typically addressed quickly. X treats these matters seriously and acts promptly.
“Let’s be clear: this is not about technical compliance. This is a political war against Elon Musk and free speech, nothing more,” she said.
Luna warned that such a move could trigger consequences similar to past US actions against foreign governments that restricted platforms, such as the 2024–2025 dispute with Brazil, which resulted in tariffs, visa revocations and sanctions over free-speech concerns.
“Starmer should reconsider this course of action, or there will be consequences,” Luna insisted.
