News Beat
Elon Musk Reverses Stance Over Grok Sexual Images Starmer Says
The prime minister said the tech billionaire’s social media platform X “is acting to ensure full compliance with UK law”.
It comes after Starmer branded Grok “disgusting and shameful” and vowed to change the law if necessary to crack down on it.
In response to the row last week, X announced that the so-called “nudification” service would only be made available to those who pay to subscribe to the app.
Addressing Labour MPs and peers in parliament, Starmer said the social media platform had not gone far enough – and said the government was ready to act “fast” to tackle the problem.
Broadcast watchdog Ofcom has also launched its own investigation into the controversy.
At prime minister’s questions, Starmer said: “We are absolutely determined to take action here. We’ve made it clear that X has to act, and if not Ofcom has our full backing and we are introducing legislation.
“To update the House, I have been informed this morning that X is acting to ensure full compliance with UK law.
“If so, that is welcome, but we’re not going to back down. They must act, we will take the necessary measures, we will strengthen existing laws and prepare for legislation if it needs to go further, and Ofcom will continue its independent investigation.”
The government has previously refused to rule out banning X altogether in the UK unless it cleans up its act.
But Musk – who has regularly clashed with Starmer since he became PM – has accused the government of wanting to “suppress free speech”.
