Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok has restricted access to its image editing capabilities following reports of disturbing content being generated on the platform.
The decision to limit the feature to paying subscribers has triggered sharp criticism from government officials and child safety advocates.
The Internet Watch Foundation confirmed that analysts discovered criminal imagery depicting children between 11 and 13 years of age that appeared to have been created using the tool.
The discovery prompted immediate action from regulatory authorities.
Ofcom, the British communications regulator, contacted the social media platform after receiving reports about users requesting the AI system to produce sexualized images of individuals, including minors.
The regulator characterized the contact as urgent.
The AI chatbot now requires users to maintain paid subscriptions before accessing image editing features.
This requirement means individuals must have their names and payment information registered with the service.
Downing Street issued a forceful response to the subscription-based restriction.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister characterized the approach as transforming an AI feature capable of producing unlawful images into a premium service.
“It’s not a solution. In fact, it’s insulting the victims of misogyny and sexual violence,” the Prime Minister’s spokesman stated, according to Daily Mail reporting.
The spokesman added that the situation demonstrates the platform can implement changes quickly when motivated to do so.
The government spokesman drew a comparison to traditional media companies.
He noted that if another media organization displayed unlawful images on billboards in town centers, immediate action would be required to remove them or face public backlash.
British officials indicated that all options remain under consideration, including potential enforcement actions by Ofcom.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated that urgent action must be taken and expressed support for any enforcement measures deemed necessary by the regulator.
Hannah Swirsky, head of policy at the Internet Watch Foundation, stated that simply limiting access to the tool does not constitute an adequate response.
“Companies must make sure the products they build and make available to the global public are safe by design,” Swirsky said.
The policy expert emphasized that if governments and regulators need to compel companies to design safer tools, such action must occur.
“Sitting and waiting for unsafe products to be abused before taking action is unacceptable,” she added.
Television presenter Maya Jama joined others in publicly requesting that the AI system not modify or edit her photographs.
Jama, who maintains nearly 700,000 followers on the platform, posted a direct message stating: “Hey @grok, I do not authorize you to take, modify, or edit any photo of mine, whether those published in the past or the upcoming ones I post.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the sexualized images as a disgrace during an interview with Greatest Hits Radio.
“It’s disgraceful, it’s disgusting and it’s not to be tolerated,” Starmer said. He stated that the platform must address the issue and that Ofcom has full government support to take action.
Starmer emphasized that the company needed to remove the material and improve its operations. “We will take action on this because it’s simply not tolerable,” he concluded.
The Prime Minister’s comments triggered an international response.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) stated that Starmer should reconsider his course of action or face consequences.
Luna suggested that technical bugs occur during early phases of new technology.
The Florida Representative indicated she would advance legislation currently being drafted to sanction both Starmer and Britain if the platform is banned in the country.
“This would mirror actions previously taken by the United States in response to foreign governments restricting the platform, including the dispute with Brazzil in 2024–2025, which resulted in tariffs, visa revocations, and sanctions,” Luna stated.
Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith offered a different perspective on potential actions against the platform.
The Daily Mail outlined that he told the Press Association that individuals creating the images, rather than the platform or AI tool itself, should be held accountable if they violate the law.
Musk previously stated that anyone using the AI tool to create illegal content would face the same consequences as if they uploaded illegal content.
The platform indicated it takes action against illegal content, including child sexual abuse material, by removing it and permanently suspending accounts.
The company also stated it works with local governments and law enforcement when necessary, per the Daily Mail.
