Musk Defends X Amid Censorship Allegations

Elon Musk has responded to critics of his social media platform, X, asserting that they are merely seeking “any excuse for censorship.” This comment follows backlash regarding the platform’s AI chatbot, Grok, which has faced scrutiny for generating sexualized images of individuals without their permission.

Ofcom has initiated a swift evaluation of X, a move supported by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall. However, both chairwomen of the technology and media committees in Parliament have expressed concerns that the Online Safety Act contains “gaps” that could impede the regulator’s effectiveness in addressing these issues.

In response to the controversy, X has restricted the AI image generation feature to paying users, a decision described by Downing Street as “insulting” to those affected by sexual violence. Reports have surfaced showing instances where the AI tool produced images depicting women in compromising positions without their consent.

Kendall announced on Friday that she anticipates an update from Ofcom within days and emphasized that the government would fully support any decision to block X in the UK if necessary.

Overnight, Musk shared various posts on X criticizing the government’s disapproval of Grok, including one featuring AI-generated images of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a bikini. Musk remarked, “They just want to suppress free speech.”

Ashley St Clair, the mother of one of Musk’s children, revealed on a news program that Grok had produced sexualized images of her as a child. She stated that despite informing Grok that she did not consent to such representations, the AI generated a portrayal of her that was essentially nude and posed provocatively.

St Clair, who has initiated a lawsuit against Musk in 2025 seeking exclusive custody of their child, criticized the platform for not doing enough to combat illegal content, including images of child sexual abuse. “This could be resolved with a straightforward directive to an engineer,” she asserted.

As of Friday morning, Grok informed users seeking to modify images uploaded to X that “image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers” and encouraged users to subscribe to access these functionalities.

An Ofcom representative stated that the agency reached out to X on Monday with a strict deadline for a response, which has now been received. The organization is conducting an expedited assessment as a priority and will provide updates shortly.

Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom possesses the authority to seek a court order aimed at preventing third parties from assisting X in fundraising or accessing the platform in the UK if the company fails to comply.

Dame Chi Onwurah, chair of the innovation and technology committee, expressed her “concerns and confusion” regarding the current handling of the situation and has written to Ofcom and Kendall for clarification. She noted that it remains uncertain whether the creation of such images using AI is illegal, as well as the extent of social media platforms’ responsibilities for the content shared on their sites.

“The act must unequivocally categorize something so damaging to so many individuals as illegal, and the responsibilities of X should be made clear,” she stated during a radio interview.

Caroline Dinenage, chair of the culture, media, and sport committee, echoed similar sentiments, voicing her “serious concern” about regulatory gaps. “There is uncertainty about whether the Online Safety Act can effectively govern functionalities, such as generative AI’s capacity to manipulate someone’s image,” she noted.

The utilization of Grok to produce non-consensual sexualized images has drawn condemnation from political figures across the spectrum. In a related note, Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, aligned with Starmer’s view that the generated material is “completely abhorrent.”

Albanese also remarked that this situation illustrates a broader failure of social media to uphold social responsibility, adding that Australia’s digital safety commissioner is examining the issue. “Citizens in Australia and around the world deserve superior standards,” he stated.

Additionally, Grok was suspended temporarily in Indonesia, where the digital minister declared that “non-consensual sexual deepfakes” represent a severe violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital domain.