UK Government will 'not back down' over row with AI chatbot Grok

Elon Musk’s X is acting to “ensure full compliance with UK law”, but the UK Government “will not back down”, the Prime Minister has told MPs following the row over the platform’s AI chatbot Grok.

There are reports that the chatbot was used to create sexualised images of women and children.

Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Keir Starmer said the Government would strengthen existing laws and Ofcom would continue its independent investigation.

“The actions of Grok and X are disgusting and they’re shameful, and frankly, the decision to then turn this into a premium service is horrific, and we’re absolutely determined to take action here,” he told MPs.

“We’ve made it clear that X has to act, but if not, Ofcom has our full backing and will introduce, and are introducing, legislation.

Starmer added: “I have been informed this morning that X is acting to ensure full compliance with UK law. If so, that is welcome, but we’re not going to back down. They must act.”

The Prime Minister was responding to Emily Darlington, Labour MP for Milton Keynes Central, who said: “If reports are correct, Elon Musk has climbed down today under pressure from this Government.

“And let’s be clear, stripping women naked without consent in real life or online is abuse. But we don’t know whether to trust what X is saying today, and this isn’t just happening on X.”

The UK Government already announced that it will make it illegal to create non-consensual intimate images with AI, following concerns about their spread on social media, particularly on X.

The UK media watchdog, Ofcom, has also launched an investigation into whether Musk’s social media platform has breached UK law over reports that Grok was used to create and share sexualised images of children.

Currently, it is not illegal to produce sexual images of someone over the age of 18, but it is illegal to share them without consent.

Technology secretary Liz Kendall told the Commons on Monday that the law, which will make it illegal to create non-consensual intimate images using AI and was introduced as part of the Data Protection and Digital Information Act passed last year, would be implemented this week.

“This means individuals are committing a criminal offence if they create or seek to create such content, including on X,” Kendall said.

But she also noted: “Responsibilities do not just lie with individuals for their own behaviour, the platforms that host such material must be held accountable, including X.”