The confrontation between the British government and Elon Musk has escalated to a potential shutdown. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned that social media platform X (formerly Twitter) could "lose its right to operate" in the UK if it fails to control its AI chatbot, Grok.

The warning follows a surge in non-consensual intimate images (NCII) generated by Grok users. Unlike other AI models that have strict safety guardrails, Grok’s "unhinged mode" has been exploited to create deepfakes of politicians and celebrities. "If X cannot control Grok, we will," Starmer told Labour MPs last night.

The "Right to Self-Regulate" is Over

The UK is preparing to invoke the full powers of the Online Safety Act. This could include fines of up to 10% of global turnover or a total ISP block of the domain. "We are done asking nicely," Technology Secretary Liz Kendall added. "A platform that facilitates sexual abuse by AI is not a free speech platform; it is a crime scene."

• The Investigation: Ofcom has formally launched a probe into X’s compliance with safety duties. If found in breach, criminal liability could extend to the company's senior executives.
• Musk's Stance: Elon Musk has previously dismissed such concerns as "woke censorship." However, the threat of losing the UK market—X's third-largest—may force a rethink.

A Global Precedent

Digital rights groups are watching London closely. If the UK successfully brings X to heel over Generative AI, it could set a template for the EU and other jurisdictions grappling with the "Wild West" of AI regulation.