US Threatens Sanctions if Starmer Moves to Ban Musk’s X

Summary: The UK Government is weighing enforcement action against X after reports that Elon Musk’s AI tool Grok was used to generate non-consensual sexualised images, including content involving children. A US Republican lawmaker has warned of possible sanctions against the UK if Britain attempts to block the platform, escalating a growing UK-US free speech and online safety dispute.

Starmer backs Ofcom as Grok deepfake row grows

Downing Street has said “all options are on the table” as regulators examine whether X has breached the Online Safety Act following reports of AI-generated “undressing” images shared via the platform.

Users have been accused of using Grok to create non-consensual sexualised images of women, including public figures, without consent. Reports have also raised concerns about images involving children.

“Ofcom has our full support to take action in relation to this. It’s unlawful. We’re not going to tolerate it. I’ve asked for all options to be on the table.”

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US congresswoman threatens sanctions over any UK move to ban X

The row has sparked a political backlash in Washington. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican member of Congress and ally of Donald Trump, said she would move to sanction both Sir Keir Starmer and the UK if Britain attempts to ban X.

She described the dispute as “a political war” and argued it was about free speech, not safety enforcement.

“If Starmer is successful in banning @X in Britain, I will move forward with legislation that is currently being drafted to sanction not only Starmer, but Britain as a whole.”

What the Online Safety Act can actually do

The Online Safety Act gives Ofcom powers to investigate and enforce compliance where platforms fail to tackle illegal content. Penalties can include large fines, and in extreme cases seeking court orders that require internet providers and app stores to restrict access.

A full block would be a major escalation and would likely involve a lengthy legal process, with the threshold focused on repeated and serious breaches.

X restricts Grok image tools, but No 10 says it “isn’t a solution”

In recent days, Grok appeared to limit some image generation and editing features, with responses indicating that certain tools were restricted to paying subscribers.

Downing Street rejected the move as inadequate, arguing it risks turning a feature capable of producing unlawful images into a paid add-on rather than removing the underlying harm.

“It’s not a solution. In fact, it’s insulting to the victims of misogyny and sexual violence.”

Political stakes: online safety enforcement meets free speech diplomacy

Politically, the dispute lands in the middle of a wider debate over regulation of US tech platforms, AI safeguards, and the boundaries of lawful speech online.

For Starmer, backing Ofcom signals a hard line on enforcement and victim protection. For US critics, any move towards blocking access to X is framed as censorship with potential diplomatic retaliation.

The next steps are likely to focus on whether Ofcom concludes the alleged content and platform response meet the threshold for formal enforcement action, and whether X implements stronger safeguards that satisfy UK law without triggering a broader UK-US clash.