Elon Musk's X backs down in row over AI images as Keir Starmer issues new threat

The Prime Minister said X is now “acting to maintain full compliance with UK law”, as Sir Keir vowed the Government would not back down.

During PMQ's today, Labour MP Emily Darlington asked the Prime Minister: "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, whether in real life or online, is abuse.

"But we do not yet know whether what X is saying today can be trusted and this is not just happening on X.

"So will the Prime Minister join me, and men and women across this House and our country, in making it clear to every app and every AI company that we will not tolerate abuse, and that we will enforce the law to protect men, women and children in this country?"

Mr Starmer responded: “Can I thank you for raising this. The actions of Grok and X are disgusting and shameful.

"And frankly, the decision to then turn this into a premium service is horrific.

"We are absolutely determined to take action. We have made it clear that X must act and if it does not, Ofcom has our full backing. We are also introducing legislation.

"Mr Speaker, to update the House, I have been informed this morning that X is now acting to ensure full compliance with UK law. If that is the case, it is welcome but we will not back down.

"They must act. We will take the necessary measures, strengthen existing laws, and prepare further legislation if required. Ofcom will also continue its independent investigation.”

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Turning his anger to Reform UK, Sir Keir said: "It’s astonishing that Reform is defending Elon Musk on this issue. It is completely unacceptable. The images are disgusting and Reform’s position on this is disgusting too.

"This is the weaponisation of images of women and children, images that should never be created, and that is why we are acting.

"Reform has not only refused to do anything about this, but the point that was raised is that they would scrap the Online Safety Act, which prevents children from accessing content such as suicide, self-harm and eating disorder material.

"That is an absolute disgrace. They clearly know nothing about protecting children.”

Earlier this week Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, condemned the images generated by Grok, saying Reform was “urging that the government pushes very hard to put pressure on X to remove that facility”.

The UK is set to bring new laws into force making it a criminal offence to create non-consensual intimate images, amid mounting concern over Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot.

Addressing Labour MPs on Monday, Sir Keir warned that X could lose its “right to self-regulate” if it fails to get the technology under control.

“If X cannot control Grok, we will,” the Prime Minister said.

Ministers are also preparing legislation to outlaw the supply of online tools designed to create such images.