Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has declared that US Vice President JD Vance finds the sexualised manipulation of images by artificial intelligence "entirely unacceptable", revealing a key point of agreement as a major diplomatic and regulatory row with tech billionaire Elon Musk intensifies.
Cross-Atlantic Condemnation of AI Abuse
Following talks in Washington this week, Mr Lammy stated that he raised the issue of the Grok AI chatbot with Mr Vance, highlighting the "horrendous, horrific situation" where the technology is being used to create deepfakes and manipulate images of women and children.
"He agreed with me that it was entirely unacceptable," Mr Lammy told The Guardian. "I think he recognised the very seriousness with which images of women and children could be manipulated in this way, and he recognised how despicable, unacceptable, that is and I found him sympathetic to that position."
Musk's 'Fascist' Accusation and Regulatory Threats
The discussions come amid a fierce confrontation between Sir Keir Starmer's government and Elon Musk, the owner of X and the xAI company behind Grok. Ministers have backed regulator Ofcom to take any necessary action against the platform after it hosted AI-generated child abuse imagery and "nudified" photos of real women and girls.
In response, Mr Musk accused the UK Government of being "fascist" and claimed it "just want[s] to suppress free speech." His comments were a reaction to the UK's high arrest figures for online posts.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has been unequivocal, stating she would fully support Ofcom if it decided to use powers under the Online Safety Act to effectively block X in the UK for non-compliance. "Sexually manipulating images of women and children is despicable and abhorrent," she said.
Ofcom is currently conducting an "expedited assessment" of responses from X and xAI. The regulator holds significant powers, including:
- Fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue.
- The ability to order payment and advertising bans, effectively blocking a service with court approval.
- Criminal prosecution capabilities.
International Fallout and Policy Response
The dispute has sparked a transatlantic political rift. Allies of Donald Trump, including Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, have threatened sanctions against the UK and Prime Minister Starmer if X is blocked. US State Department official Sarah Rogers has also criticised the UK on the platform.
Conversely, the UK's stance has received international backing, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelling the non-consensual use of AI to sexualise people as "abhorrent".
Despite X reportedly altering Grok's settings on Friday 10 January 2026 to restrict image manipulation to paid subscribers, Ms Kendall condemned the move, stating it was "totally unacceptable for Grok to allow this if you're willing to pay for it." She expects an update on Ofcom's next steps "in days, not weeks."
Concurrently, the government is advancing other legislative measures, with plans to ban nudification apps in the Crime and Policing Bill and new powers to criminalise the creation of intimate images without consent due to come into force within weeks.
