Elon Musk said critics of his social media platform X are seeking "any excuse for censorship" after its artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, drew widespread condemnation for being used to create sexualized images of people without their knowledge or consent. The remarks came as UK media regulator Ofcom confirmed it is conducting an urgent assessment of X, with the backing of Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, following reports that Grok was used to generate non-consensual sexual images, including of women and minors. X has since restricted access to its AI image-generation tool to paying subscribers only — a move criticized by the UK government, which described the change as "insulting" to victims of sexual violence. Technology Secretary Kendall said on Friday that she expects an update from Ofcom within days and warned that the government would support the regulator should it decide to block X in the UK. Musk responded by reposting messages criticizing the government's stance, including AI-generated images depicting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a bikini. "They just want to suppress free speech," Musk wrote. Ofcom said it had contacted X earlier in the week and received a response after setting a firm deadline. "We're now undertaking an expedited assessment as a matter of urgency and will provide further updates shortly," a spokesperson said. Under the UK's Online Safety Act, Ofcom can seek court orders to restrict access to platforms or prevent them from generating revenue in the UK if they fail to comply. However, senior MPs warned that gaps in the law may limit the regulator's ability to address AI-generated abuse. Dame Chi Onwurah, chair of Parliament's science, innovation and technology committee, said it remains unclear whether the creation of such images is explicitly illegal under current legislation or how responsibility should be enforced. Caroline Dinenage, chair of the culture, media and sport committee, echoed those concerns, warning that the act may not adequately regulate AI functionality itself. Political leaders across parties condemned the use of Grok to generate non-consensual sexual images. Prime Minister Starmer called the material "disgraceful" and "disgusting," while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described it as "horrible in every way," though he cautioned against banning the platform on free speech grounds. The Liberal Democrats called for temporary restrictions on X during the investigation. International concern has also grown. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the content was "completely abhorrent," while Indonesia temporarily suspended Grok, with its digital minister describing non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a serious human rights violation. — Agencies
