Full Analysis Summary
UK response to AI misuse
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Jan. 9 warned that all options are on the table, including a possible ban of Elon Musk's X.
The warning followed reports that X's AI chatbot Grok had been used to generate sexualized and non-consensual images, including apparent deepfakes of minors and adults.
Starmer called the practice disgraceful, disgusting and unlawful and said X must get a grip, reflecting sharp government alarm at the tool's misuse and rising public outcry.
The episode has prompted scrutiny from regulators and criticism from victims' advocates and public figures.
Coverage Differences
Tone and emphasis
cbsnews (Other) foregrounds Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s direct comments and the possibility of a ban, quoting his language about options and the need for X to “get a grip.” UNILAD (Western Tabloid) emphasizes government criticism and the role of the Internet Watch Foundation, noting criminals used Grok to produce child sexual abuse imagery, while The Sun (Western Tabloid) highlights celebrity victims and broader public backlash including references to specific figures like Maya Jama and politicians leaving X. Each source reports overlapping facts but stresses different angles: leadership response (cbsnews), institutional findings and legal framing (UNILAD), and celebrity/political fallout (The Sun).
X image moderation response
X's immediate technical response, as reported across outlets, was to limit image generation and editing via Grok to paying subscribers.
The company also said it was removing illegal content, suspending accounts, and working with law enforcement as part of its content moderation steps.
X now responds to image-edit requests with the message: "Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers," and says it has taken enforcement actions following the outcry.
Government officials called these measures insufficient and insulting, arguing that stronger regulatory measures are required.
Coverage Differences
Framing of X's response
UNILAD (Western Tabloid) and The Sun (Western Tabloid) both report X’s limited access message and X’s claims about removing illegal content; UNILAD records Downing Street calling the move “insulting” and “not a solution,” while The Sun stresses X’s stated enforcement actions and critics’ view that the change shows X can move quickly when pressured. cbsnews (Other) frames the incident in the context of regulatory scrutiny, noting regulators worldwide are examining Grok’s capabilities, which emphasizes systemic oversight rather than only corporate fixes. These portrayals differ in whether they present X’s response as inadequate, reactive, or primarily a regulatory problem.
Regulatory pressure on X
Regulators and ministers have signaled possible legal and enforcement steps if X does not satisfy safety and criminality concerns.
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall urged Ofcom to use its full legal powers to block X in the UK if necessary, and Ofcom has reportedly made 'urgent contact' with X and xAI to assess potential breaches of the Online Safety Act.
Officials and campaign groups pointed to warnings from the Internet Watch Foundation that criminals have used Grok to produce child sexual abuse imagery, elevating the issue from a platform moderation lapse to a possible criminal and regulatory matter.
Coverage Differences
Focus on legal mechanisms vs. institutional warnings
UNILAD (Western Tabloid) specifically reports Liz Kendall urging Ofcom to use its full legal powers and quotes the Internet Watch Foundation about criminal use, framing the issue in legal enforcement terms. The Sun (Western Tabloid) highlights Ofcom’s “urgent contact” and notes creating or sharing non-consensual intimate images is a criminal offence in the UK, emphasizing regulatory compliance and law enforcement. cbsnews (Other) centers political leadership language about considering a ban and international regulatory scrutiny, which frames the response as both political threat and oversight. Together the sources show overlapping concern but differ in whether they foreground legal tools, regulatory engagement, or political threats.
Media and political fallout
The political and cultural fallout is reflected differently across outlets: some coverage singles out high-profile victims and political departures, while other reporting emphasizes institutional and legal responses.
The Sun lists celebrities like Love Island host Maya Jama and notes some politicians, including former transport secretary Louise Haigh, said they were leaving X, portraying a rapid reputational hit for the platform.
UNILAD and CBS News, meanwhile, underscore government condemnation and regulatory pressure, with Downing Street calling X's subscriber-only restriction insulting and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer warning of possible prohibition.
These contrasting accounts show a narrative split between social outrage and formal accountability measures.
Coverage Differences
Narrative focus: social vs. institutional
The Sun (Western Tabloid) emphasizes celebrity victims and immediate reputational damage, quoting specific figures and exits from the platform. UNILAD (Western Tabloid) reports on government condemnation and IWF findings and quotes Downing Street calling X’s move “insulting.” cbsnews (Other) stresses the prime minister’s explicit threat and global regulatory scrutiny, making the story about political consequence as much as social harm. These differences reflect how each source selects details to support either social outrage or policy action narratives.