Former Labour Cabinet minister Louise Haigh has issued a stark demand for the UK government to immediately cease all activity on the social media platform X, citing the proliferation of AI-generated sexualised images of children on the site.
AI-Generated Abuse Fuels Calls for Boycott
The urgent call to action follows a damning analysis which revealed that an 'abusive' AI undressing trend is spreading on X. This trend is reportedly facilitated by the platform's own AI tool, Grok, introduced under the ownership of Elon Musk.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) confirmed the existence of criminal imagery featuring children aged between 11 and 13, created using Grok and subsequently shared on the dark web. This revelation has sparked outrage and immediate political repercussions.
Political Pressure Mounts on Starmer's Government
In a powerful statement, Ms Haigh declared it "unconscionable to use the site for another minute". She has publicly urged both her own party and the wider government to remove their official presence from X entirely.
This pressure is already having an effect. The Women and Equalities Committee, chaired by Sarah Owen MP, has already halted its use of the platform. Ms Owen has directly questioned the logic of any government department maintaining a profile on X, given the administration's stated mission to tackle violence against women and girls.
Government Considers All Options Including Full Boycott
The government's response indicates the seriousness with which it is treating the issue. The Prime Minister's official spokesman described the situation as "a disgrace" and "completely unacceptable".
In a significant move, the spokesman stated that "all options remain on the table" regarding potential government action. This explicitly includes the possibility of a full-scale official boycott of the platform. The government has also pledged its full support for the communications regulator, Ofcom, to take any necessary enforcement action.
The controversy, centred on the misuse of artificial intelligence to create harmful content, presents a major challenge for the platform and tests the government's commitment to its safeguarding policies.
