UK Government considers X Ban over Indecent AI Images

Elon Musk’s X has been ordered by the UK government to tackle a surge in indecent AI-generated images or face a de facto ban.

The warning comes as regulators, ministers and victims accused the platform of failing to protect women and children from sexualised abuse generated using its Grok AI tool.

Ofcom confirmed it is accelerating an investigation into X after a growing backlash over images depicting partially stripped women and children circulating on the site.

The regulator said it has demanded urgent answers from the company and could take enforcement action within days.

X announced that the ability to generate and edit images using Grok would be restricted to paying subscribers.

X said the feature would now be “limited to paying subscribers”, who must provide personal details.

The company suggested this would make it easier to identify users who misuse the tool.

However, the move failed to quell criticism and instead deepened anger among victims, politicians and experts.

Downing Street described it as unacceptable and insulting to victims.

A spokesperson said: “The move simply turns an AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service.

“It’s not a solution. In fact, it’s insulting to victims of misogyny and sexual violence.

“What it does prove is that X can move swiftly when it wants to do so.

“You heard the prime minister yesterday. He was abundantly clear that X needs to act, and needs to act now. It is time for X to grip this issue.”

Grok is integrated into X and users have been able to prompt it to change clothed images, making subjects appear in bikinis or sexualised poses.

Ministers are now considering whether access to X should be blocked in the UK.

Technology secretary Liz Kendall said the government was looking seriously at that option.

She said Ofcom was expected to announce action within “days not weeks”.

Kendall added: “X needs to get a grip and get this material down.

“And I would remind them that in the Online Safety Act, there are backstop powers to block access to services if they refuse to comply with the law for people in the UK.

“And if Ofcom decides to use those powers, they would have the full backing of the government.”

Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom can issue multimillion-pound fines for non-compliance.

The ultimate sanction is a court order requiring internet providers to block a site or app entirely.

Responding to a post about the UK government’s threat, Musk wrote:

“They want any excuse for censorship.”

Pressure on ministers has intensified following reports of widespread AI-generated sexualised images. Many were created after users requested Grok to manipulate images of women and sometimes children.

X has around 300 million monthly users, according to data company Similarweb.

US firm Appfigures estimates between 2.2 million and 2.6 million users pay for X subscriptions.

Victims say the platform’s response has come too late.

Broadcaster Narinder Kaur said the new restriction was not a victory.

She said: “As a victim to this abuse, it feels like those who pay for premium X will just be able to monetise this feature now.

“And as for saying it will be easier to identify accounts at least – what will the police actually do and how fast?

“If that image stays up even for a few hours – the damage and humiliation is already done.”

While government sources say all options remain on the table, allies of the prime minister are sceptical about leaving X entirely.

They believe public pressure and regulatory action are more likely to force change.

However, a growing number of MPs and organisations have already left the platform.

Several women’s sector organisations have also left X, including Refuge and Women’s Aid Ireland.

Victim Support said in April 2025 that X was “no longer the right place for us to communicate with our audiences”.

Despite the new restrictions, researchers found Grok continued to generate sexualised images in some cases.

On Friday, non-paying users requesting “put her in a bikini” were blocked by the chatbot.

However, paid subscribers were still able to generate certain images, including of men in bikinis.

On the Grok app, where content is not instantly public, images of women and children in bikinis were still being generated, researchers said.