Sat, 10 Jan 2026

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 Musk says X outcry is 'excuse for censorship'

The government is urging Ofcom to use all its powers – up to and including an effective ban – against X.

* Elon Musk says critics of his social media site X are looking for "any excuse for censorship" after its AI chatbot Grok drew criticism over creating sexualised images without consent.
* Ofcom is conducting an urgent assessment of X with the backing of Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, but some lawmakers say there may be "gaps" in the Online Safety Act that could hinder regulation.
* X has limited the use of AI image function to those who pay a monthly fee, which Downing Street has called "insulting" to victims of sexual violence.
* The UK government is expected to receive an update from Ofcom within days and may block X in the UK if it decides to do so.
* Elon Musk reposted messages criticizing the government's response, including one with AI-generated images of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a bikini.
* Ashley St Clair, the mother of one of Elon Musk's children, claims Grok generated sexualised photos of her as a child without consent.
* Ofcom is undertaking an expedited assessment and has set a deadline for X to explain itself.
* Lawmakers are concerned that the Online Safety Act may not have enough power to deal with the issue, with some calling for clearer regulations around AI-generated content.
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