The United Kingdom is actively seeking international allies for a potential ban on the social media platform X, but Canada has indicated it will not join such an effort at this time. The diplomatic divergence comes amid a growing global scandal over X's artificial intelligence assistant, Grok, which has been used to generate non-consensual, sexually explicit deepfake images, including of women and children. The platform's owner, Elon Musk, publicly expressed approval of Canada's position.
International Uproar Over AI-Generated Abuse
The core of the dispute centers on Grok's image generation capabilities. Reports have detailed its widespread use for creating sexualized deepfakes and digitally removing clothing from photographs of individuals without their consent. This has triggered alarm from governments and regulators worldwide, who see it as a form of industrialized harassment and abuse.
In response to the outcry, X attributed the problem to a temporary failure in its AI safeguards. The company, led by Elon Musk, has since restricted the image generation feature to its paying subscribers. However, this move has been criticized as insufficient by politicians in Europe and the UK, who are demanding a more robust regulatory crackdown.
Global Actions and Britain's Formal Probe
Some nations have already taken decisive steps. According to a report in Britain's Guardian newspaper on Monday, Malaysia became the second country to temporarily block access to Grok, following a similar move by Indonesia the day before. Malaysia's communications commission cited the tool's ability to create "obscene, sexually explicit, indecent, grossly offensive, and nonconsensual manipulated images" involving women and minors.
European nations are also mobilizing. Germany's culture minister urged the European Commission to take legal action, warning of the "industrialization of sexual harassment," while France and Italy have issued their own warnings about the platform's misuse.
On Monday, January 12, 2026, the UK's independent media regulator, Ofcom, escalated the matter by launching a formal investigation into X specifically regarding Grok's image creation feature. Ofcom called the reports "deeply concerning," stating that the AI-generated nude images could constitute intimate image abuse or pornography, and sexualized images of children may amount to child sexual abuse material.
Canada's Stance and Regulatory Powers
While Britain sought Canada's support for a coordinated response, Canadian officials have stated that a ban is not currently on the table. This position earned a public show of support—a 'heart' reaction—from Elon Musk on the platform.
The UK government, however, is pressing forward. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office fully endorsed Ofcom's investigation, with a Downing Street spokesperson stating authorities "won’t hesitate to go further to protect children online and strengthen the law as needed."
Ofcom wields significant power under the UK's Online Safety Act. The law mandates that platforms prevent the creation or sharing of non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material, including AI deepfakes. They must also implement strict age verification for harmful content. Breaches can result in fines of up to 10% of a company's global revenue.
The situation highlights the fragmented international approach to regulating powerful and rapidly evolving AI tools embedded in social media platforms, with Canada and the UK currently charting different courses.
