**Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has indicated strong support for the UK’s online safety regulator, Ofcom, stating she would endorse their decision to block access to Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, should it fail to adhere to established online safety legislation.**

This statement suggests a firm stance from the government on enforcing online safety rules, even for prominent international platforms. If Ofcom were to take such a drastic step, it would signal a significant move in the UK’s efforts to hold social media companies accountable for the content hosted on their sites and the safety of their users.

**Ofcom is launching an urgent investigation into X’s AI chatbot, Grok, following its unauthorized use to digitally undress individuals featured in images shared on the platform. In response to the controversy, X has restricted this image manipulation feature to paying subscribers.**

The UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, has signaled its intent to take swift action regarding the controversial AI chatbot, Grok, developed by X (formerly Twitter). The chatbot’s capability to digitally alter images, specifically by removing clothing without consent, has raised serious ethical and privacy concerns. This alarming functionality was reportedly triggered when users tagged images with the Grok chatbot.

In an apparent attempt to mitigate further misuse and address the backlash, X has implemented a new policy. The ability to utilize this image manipulation function is now exclusively available to users who subscribe to X’s premium service, requiring a monthly payment. The regulatory body’s prompt response suggests a recognition of the severity of the privacy violations and the potential for widespread harm. Further details on Ofcom’s proposed actions are expected imminently.

Downing Street has labelled the alteration as “insulting” to those who have suffered sexual violence.

In a post on the social media platform X, Elon Musk asserted that the UK government is “looking for any excuse for censorship.” He made this statement in response to a query that questioned why other artificial intelligence platforms were not facing similar scrutiny.

“The sexual manipulation of images depicting women and children is utterly reprehensible and morally repugnant,” stated Kendall.

She emphasized that both she and the public would anticipate Ofcom to provide an update on their subsequent actions within days, rather than weeks.

The Online Safety Act grants the government the authority to block access to online services within the UK if they fail to adhere to British legislation. A spokesperson confirmed that any decision by the regulator, Ofcom, to utilize these blocking powers would receive their complete backing.

The BBC has reached out to X for their perspective on this matter.

Here are a few paraphrased options, maintaining a journalistic tone and the core meaning:

**Option 1 (Direct & Concise):**

> Following urgent contact on Monday, Ofcom has received a response from X after setting a firm deadline of today, Friday, for the platform to explain its position.

**Option 2 (Slightly more active voice):**

> Ofcom reached out to X on Monday with an urgent request for an explanation, setting a firm deadline of Friday. The regulator has since confirmed it has received a response.

**Option 3 (Emphasizing the deadline):**

> A deadline of today, Friday, was set by Ofcom for X to provide an explanation, after the regulator made urgent contact on Monday. Ofcom has confirmed it has now received a response.

**Option 4 (Focus on the action taken):**

> The regulator Ofcom confirmed today, Friday, that it has received a response from X. This follows urgent engagement on Monday, when Ofcom set a firm deadline for the platform to explain itself.

Each option offers a slightly different emphasis while accurately conveying the information provided in the original quote.

“We are currently conducting a swift and urgent review of the situation and will share further details soon.”

Here are a few paraphrased options, maintaining a journalistic tone:

**Option 1 (Focus on consequence):**

> Should X fail to adhere to the Online Safety Act, Ofcom possesses the authority to petition a court for an order that would prohibit third parties from facilitating the platform’s fundraising efforts or its accessibility within the United Kingdom.

**Option 2 (More direct and active):**

> The Online Safety Act empowers Ofcom to pursue court orders that could block third parties from assisting X with fundraising or providing access to the platform in the UK, in instances where the company refuses to comply with its regulations.

**Option 3 (Emphasizing the refusal):**

> If X resists compliance with the Online Safety Act, Ofcom is equipped to seek judicial intervention. This could lead to court orders preventing third parties from aiding X in raising funds or in being accessible to users in the UK.

**Option 4 (Concise and impactful):**

> Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom can seek court injunctions to cut off third-party support for X’s fundraising and UK access if the social media firm refuses to comply.

Each option aims to rephrase the original sentence by:

* **Varying sentence structure:** Starting with different clauses or subjects.
* **Using synonyms:** Replacing words like “powers,” “include,” “seek,” “prevent,” “helping,” “raise money,” and “refuse to comply.”
* **Adjusting the flow:** Creating a more active or descriptive narrative.
* **Maintaining clarity:** Ensuring the meaning of Ofcom’s authority and the potential repercussions for X are clear.

These so-called business disruption measures remain largely untested.

The use of Grok to generate non-consensual sexualised images has been condemned by politicians on all sides, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling it “disgraceful” and “disgusting”.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said it was “horrible in every way” and that X “needs to go further” than the changes it had made to Grok earlier on Friday.

But he said the idea of banning X in the UK was “frankly appalling” and an attack on free speech.

The Liberal Democrats have called for access to X to be temporarily restricted in the UK while the social media site was investigated.

Grok is a free tool which users can tag directly in posts or replies under other users’ posts to ask it for a particular response.

The tool can still edit images on X if accessed through other areas of the platform, such as via its in-built “edit image” function, or on its separate app and website.

Many requests have been made asking it to edit images of women to show them in bikinis or little clothing – something those subject to such requests have told the BBC left them feeling “humiliated” and “dehumanised”.

However as of Friday morning, Grok has told users asking it to alter images uploaded to X that “image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers”, adding users “can subscribe to unlock these features”.

Some posts on the platform seen by BBC News suggest only those with a blue tick “verified” mark – exclusive to X’s paid subscriber tier – were able to successfully request image edits to Grok.

Dr Daisy Dixon, a lecturer in philosophy at Cardiff University and female X user who said she had seen an increase in people using Grok to undress her, welcomed the change but said it felt “like a sticking plaster”.

“Grok needs to be totally redesigned and have built-in ethical guardrails to prevent this from ever happening again,” she told the BBC.

“Elon Musk also needs to acknowledge this for what it is – yet another instance of gender-based violation.”

Hannah Swirsky, head of policy at the Internet Watch Foundation, said it “does not undo the harm which has been done”.

“We do not believe it is good enough to simply limit access to a tool which should never have had the capacity to create the kind of imagery we have seen in recent days,” she said.

The charity previously said its analysts had discovered “criminal imagery” of girls aged between 11 and 13 which “appeared to have been created” using Grok.

Labour MPs are increasingly unhappy with the party’s use of X to get its political messages out.

Leaked messages from the Parliamentary Labour Party’s WhatsApp group, used to post announcements for backbench Labour MPs to share on social media, show at least 13 Labour MPs have called on the government to stop using the platform.

The messages, first reported by Politics Home and seen by BBC News, show Labour MPs calling on the government to “take a stand” and “put our messages out in other places”.

One MP said: “As some of us have requested since Musk went all fascist, rather than X, our government should start using another platform”.

Another said: “Any images of children (and women) in government comms on X put those children in harms way.”

Earlier on Friday, Downing Street suggested that the government would continue posting on X.

The prime minister’s official spokesperson told reporters changes to the way Grok complied with user requests to edit images on the platform showed X “can move swiftly when it wants to”.

They said it was “abundantly clear that X needs to act and needs to act now”.

“It is time for X to grip this issue, if another media company had billboards in town centres showing unlawful images, it would act immediately to take them down or face public backlash,” they added.