Prime Minister Keir Starmer has delivered a blunt ultimatum to tech billionaire Elon Musk, vowing that the UK government will take swift and decisive action to halt abuses linked to the Grok artificial intelligence tool on the social media platform X.
Ofcom Launches Formal Investigation into X
The confrontation escalated after the UK communications regulator, Ofcom, announced a formal investigation into X on Monday, 12 January 2026. The probe was triggered by what the regulator described as "deeply concerning" reports that Grok, X's integrated AI, has been used to create non-consensual sexualised imagery, including of children.
Ofcom stated it will examine whether X has breached its legal duties under the Online Safety Act to protect users in the United Kingdom from illegal content. The Act grants the regulator significant enforcement powers, including the ability to levy substantial fines or, in the most severe cases, ban the platform entirely from operating in the UK.
A Clash of Ideologies: Government vs Musk
Addressing MPs and peers in Parliament, Sir Keir was unequivocal in his condemnation. "The actions of Grok and X are absolutely disgusting and shameful," he stated, framing the issue as one of public safety and legal accountability.
The government's stance has received strong backing from ministers, who have publicly supported Ofcom's decisive move. However, Elon Musk has fiercely criticised the UK's position. In a characteristically provocative response, the owner of X accused the government of "fascism" and alleged it was attempting to suppress free speech through regulatory overreach.
The Stakes and Potential Consequences
This standoff represents one of the most significant tests of the UK's flagship Online Safety Act since it became law. The government's warning of "fast action" signals a readiness to use the full extent of its new regulatory toolkit against one of the world's most prominent tech platforms.
The outcome of Ofcom's investigation will be closely watched, not only for its immediate impact on X but also as a precedent for how democracies regulate the rapidly evolving and often harmful capabilities of generative AI tools integrated into mainstream social media. The core question remains whether platform owners like Musk can effectively self-regulate such powerful technology or if state intervention, as threatened by Starmer's government, will become the norm.
