Elon Musk's social media platform X has now restricted its Grok artificial intelligence image editing feature exclusively to paying subscribers, following threats it could be banned in the UK over the creation of sexualised AI images.
The AI chatbot faced substantial public outcry after fulfilling user requests to digitally remove clothing from photographs of individuals without their permission.
Users attempting to generate such content are now informed that only those with paid subscriptions can access the image editing functionality.
This change means that anyone seeking to use the feature must have their identity and payment information registered with the platform, creating a traceable record of users.
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Downing Street has rejected the update as insufficient, arguing the changes only serve to make creating deepfakes a “premium service”.
They slammed the move as “insulting” to victims of misogyny and sexual violence.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously responded forcefully to reports that sexualised images of both adults and children had been produced using the Grok tool.
He described the content as "disgraceful" and "disgusting."
Elon Musk's X has backed down in threats of a UK ban over sexualised deepfake images
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"It's unlawful. We're not going to tolerate it. I've asked for all options to be on the table."
Sir Keir confirmed that the media regulator Ofcom has the government's "full support" to take action against the platform.
The government has urged Ofcom to deploy every power at its disposal, potentially including measures that could effectively ban X from operating in Britain.
Government sources have indicated they expect Ofcom to utilise the full range of enforcement mechanisms available under the Online Safety Act in relation to Grok and X.
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'We're not going to tolerate it. I've asked for all options to be on the table,' Prime Minister Keir Starmer said of the offending content
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The legislation grants the regulator significant powers to act against platforms that fail to comply with UK law.
Among the most severe measures available, Ofcom can apply to the courts for orders that would prevent third parties from assisting the Elon Musk-owned platform in generating revenue.
The regulator could also seek judicial intervention to block access to X entirely within the United Kingdom.
Downing Street sources had previously said the full powers of the Online Safety Act remain on the table, including fines worth billions of pounds or the complete removal of X from the UK market, where the platform has around 20 million users out of a global audience of 650 million.
The row was sparked after users began generating thousands of these images every hour, often by commenting beneath photos with prompts such as “put her in a bikini,” causing the AI to produce sexualised images of real women without consent.
A UK internet watchdog said on Wednesday it had found Grok-generated images on a dark web forum that would qualify as illegal child sexual abuse material.
Mr Musk bought the platform, formerly Twitter, for $44billion (£32.7billion) in 2022.
The dispute could heighten existing tensions between Britain and the US over freedom of expression.
The generation of sexually explicit AI images on X sparked a huge row
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The White House has previously accused the Government of retreating on free speech, while President Donald Trump has directly criticised the Britain’s tech regulations as “not a good thing.”.
US Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers said on Thursday: “Deepfakes are a troubling, frontier issue that call for tailored, thoughtful responses.
“Erecting a 'Great Wall' to ban X, or lobotomising AI, is neither tailored nor thoughtful.
“We stand ready to work with the UK on better ideas.”
Within the US, X’s images have also sparked outrage in the US, with Republican Senator Ted Cruz describing the AI-generated pictures as “unacceptable” and a breach of US law banning AI-produced revenge porn.
Elon Musk said this week: “Anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.”
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