UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a strong warning to social media companies, directing them to remove any non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours of being identified.
In a statement shared on his official X account, Starmer described the circulation of such material as “deeply unacceptable” and said the government had already intervened after learning that artificial intelligence tools were being exploited to create explicit images without the subject’s consent.
According to the Prime Minister, swift action was taken when authorities became aware that the AI chatbot Grok was allegedly being used to generate inappropriate and harmful content.
He stressed that technology platforms must take greater responsibility in preventing the spread of abusive material.
Starmer said the new directive forms part of broader efforts to curb online abuse, particularly offences that target women and girls. He emphasised that violence and exploitation in any form have no place in society and pledged continued government action to address emerging digital threats.
The announcement reflects a tougher regulatory stance from the UK government toward online platforms and AI developers, especially regarding the misuse of artificial intelligence to produce explicit deepfake content.
Earlier in February, Reuters reported that the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) had opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, over concerns about how its chatbot Grok processes personal data and whether it could facilitate the creation of sexualised imagery. The probe also involves X Internet Unlimited Company.
Regulators said reports suggesting that the technology may have been used to generate non-consensual sexual images — including of minors — raise serious concerns under UK data protection laws and pose potential risks to public safety.
The government’s latest move signals increased pressure on digital platforms to respond quickly to harmful content and strengthen safeguards against AI-driven abuse.