The United Kingdom is taking a firm legal stand against the malicious use of artificial intelligence to create s£xual imagery. In a significant move announced this week, generating s£xual images of a person without their consent, including through AI tools, will become a criminal offence.
The Spark: Grok AI and the "Undress" Trend
The urgent legislative action follows widespread public anger and concern triggered by activities on Elon Musk's social media platform, X. Reports revealed that male users were exploiting the platform's AI chatbot, Grok, to create "undressed" images of individuals. The targets of this disturbing trend included women, children, and even high-profile figures.
Two UK cabinet ministers and Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, were among the victims of these AI-generated deepfakes. In response to the backlash, Elon Musk altered Grok's rules, restricting image generation to verified users whose real identities are linked to their accounts. However, he also appeared to mock the seriousness of the issue by generating an image of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a bikini, framing content limitations as an attack on free speech.
Government and Regulatory Crackdown
Science and Tech Secretary Liz Kendall addressed the House of Commons on Monday, January 12, 2026, confirming the new law would be enacted this week. The offence will be prosecuted under the Data (Use and Access) Act, which was passed by Parliament last year.
Furthermore, the government plans to outlaw so-called "nudification" apps through the flagship Crime and Policing Bill, currently progressing through Parliament. This broader legislation will also prohibit companies from supplying the tools used to create non-consensual intimate images. Secretary Kendall stated this approach aims to tackle the problem "at its source." She did not specify the exact day the new criminal offence takes effect.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a stark warning to platform X, suggesting it could lose its self-regulatory status over the Grok controversy. He told Labour MPs, "If X cannot control Grok, we will – and we’ll do it fast because if you profit from harm and abuse, you lose the right to self regulate."
Ongoing Investigations and Broader Implications
Adding to the pressure, the UK communications regulator, Ofcom, has launched an investigation into whether X broke the law by failing to protect users from illegal content. Ofcom expressed deep concern over reports of the Grok AI chatbot being used to create and share undressed images, which may constitute intimate image abuse or pornography, and s£xualised images of children that could amount to child s£xual abuse material.
This swift legal response marks a critical step in adapting legislation to keep pace with rapidly evolving technology. It sets a precedent for holding both creators and platforms accountable for the weaponisation of AI to cause personal harm and violates bodily autonomy.
