Amid rising concerns over sexualised AI-generated images on X, UK and US authorities engage in a cross-continental crackdown, with diplomatic and legislative responses intensifying to tackle the unchecked spread of harmful content.
David Lammy said US Vice‑President JD Vance agreed that the sexualised manipulation of images of women and children by the Grok artificial intelligence chatbot was “entirely unacceptable” after talks this week, underscoring growing transatlantic concern about AI‑generated deepfakes on the social media platform X. According to The Guardian, Lammy told the paper he described the situation as “absolutely abhorrent” and found Vance “sympathetic” to the UK’s position. [1][2]
The exchange comes amid a wider stand‑off between the UK Government and X’s owner xAI, led by Elon Musk, after ministers warned they could move to effectively block the platform if it fails to meet UK legal requirements. Ofcom has opened an “expedited assessment” into Grok’s production of images that include sexualised depictions of children and non‑consensual nudification of real people, the regulator confirmed as reported by The Guardian. [1][4]
Elon Musk has publicly accused the UK Government of seeking to suppress free speech, tweeting “Why is the UK Government so fascist?” and telling The Guardian the government “just want to suppress free speech”. X subsequently appeared to restrict image‑editing requests to paid subscribers, though reports suggest the change did not close other routes to create or edit images, including via a separate Grok website. Critics say that limited measure does not adequately address the harm. [1][3][4]
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the Government would support Ofcom if it chose to use powers under the Online Safety Act to block services from being accessed in the UK, calling the sexual manipulation of images of women and children “despicable and abhorrent”. Government sources pointed to potential enforcement tools including fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue, and orders that could push payment providers, advertisers and internet service providers to cease working with a service , measures that could amount to an effective ban but would require court backing. Ms Kendall also flagged forthcoming criminal offences relating to intimate images in the Crime and Policing Bill. [1]
The issue has prompted diplomatic and parliamentary scrutiny in multiple countries. Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna threatened legislation to sanction UK officials if X were blocked, and the US State Department’s under secretary for public diplomacy, Sarah Rogers, posted criticisms of the UK’s approach on X. Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese voiced support for the UK’s concerns, calling the use of generative AI to sexualise people “abhorrent”. Meanwhile, the UK Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee has pressed Ofcom for details on enforcement under the Online Safety Act, demanding clarity on whether current powers are sufficient to tackle AI‑driven content creation. [1][5][6]
Industry observers and legislators say the episode exposes gaps in governance for generative AI tools integrated into social platforms. The Government and parliamentarians have emphasised swift regulatory action, while X and xAI face pressure to demonstrate how product changes will prevent abuse without shifting harmful capabilities to paid tiers or alternate channels. The accelerated regulatory scrutiny and cross‑border political pushback highlight the complexity of policing AI harms that can be created and distributed at scale. [4][6][7]
Ofcom has said it is in contact with X and xAI as part of its expedited assessment and will consider next steps in days, not weeks, ministers and officials said. The unfolding dispute will test enforcement tools in the Online Safety Act and the extent to which national regulators can compel global tech firms to prevent the creation and dissemination of sexualised AI imagery of real people and children. [1][4]
##Reference Map:
- [1] (The Irish News) – Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 4, Paragraph 5, Paragraph 7
- [2] (The Guardian) – Paragraph 1
- [3] (The Guardian) – Paragraph 3
- [4] (The Guardian) – Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 6, Paragraph 7
- [5] (Evening Standard) – Paragraph 5
- [6] (UK Parliament/Culture, Media and Sport Committee) – Paragraph 5, Paragraph 6
- [7] (Sky News) – Paragraph 6
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is current, with the earliest known publication date being January 10, 2026. The report cites a meeting between David Lammy and JD Vance in Washington on January 8, 2026, discussing the issue of AI-generated sexualised images on X. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/10/ai-generated-sexualised-images-x-jd-vance-grok?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes attributed to David Lammy and JD Vance are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating original or exclusive content. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/10/ai-generated-sexualised-images-x-jd-vance-grok?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Guardian, a reputable organisation. The Irish News also reports on the same event, corroborating the information. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/10/ai-generated-sexualised-images-x-jd-vance-grok?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with recent developments regarding AI-generated sexualised images on X. The European Commission and UK authorities have condemned such content, and Ofcom is conducting an expedited assessment. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-06/eu-britain-join-condemnation-of-grok-ai-sexual-images/106203054?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with original quotes from reputable sources, and the claims are plausible and corroborated by multiple outlets. No significant credibility risks were identified.
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