Elon Musk says backlash to AI chatbot deepfake images is 'excuse for censorship'

On 10 January 2026, Elon Musk accused the backlash over X’s AI chatbot Grok’s deepfake sexual images of being an excuse for censorship. The UK’s Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, urged X to “get a grip” on Grok and asked Ofcom to explore all options. The chatbot, which has generated explicit sexual content – including child‑abuse imagery – was temporarily blocked in Indonesia, the first country to deny access. Following reports, X limited image‑editing to paid subscribers, a move described as “insulting” by Downing Street. The media watchdog, empowered by the Online Safety Act, can fine up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue and, if necessary, ban the platform. Ofcom now runs an expedited assessment of Grok’s compliance.