Downing Street has held talks with Canada and Australia over a possible joint response to Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, after fresh controversy around its AI tool, Grok.
The tool has come under fire for being used to generate explicit images of women and children. British officials say the issue has raised serious concerns about online safety and platform responsibility.
Pressure builds over Grok and online safety
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his counterparts in Australia and Canada share concerns about the spread of deepfake and manipulated images.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the use of the tool “completely abhorrent” and said social media platforms must show more responsibility.
The UK government has warned that it could go further and ban X under the Online Safety Act if the company fails to remove features that allow such content to be created.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has pledged to back Ofcom if the regulator recommends a full block on access to the platform in Britain.
She has urged MPs to support action against platforms that allow illegal and degrading content.
Australia and UK push harder on X
Canadian Liberal MPs have so far denied that Ottawa plans to ban X.
Toronto Centre MP Evan Solomon said clearly that Canada is not considering such a move. Still, officials in London believe coordinated pressure from several countries would send a strong message to Elon Musk.
Ofcom is expected to announce its recommendations within days. The UK government says it will follow the regulator’s advice.
Political tensions and US reaction
Any ban could raise tensions with the Trump administration in the United States. Mr. Musk has already accused the Labour government of censorship and labelled it “fascist.”
A Republican lawmaker has even warned of possible sanctions if Britain blocks X.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said US Vice President JD Vance agreed that the misuse of Grok was unacceptable. For now, the UK is preparing its next steps as pressure mounts on X to act.
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