Elon Musk has launched a fierce attack on the United Kingdom's government, labelling it 'fascist' as his social media platform X faces the threat of a potential ban. The controversy stems from the misuse of X's integrated AI chatbot, Grok, to generate sexualized images, prompting a severe regulatory backlash.
Musk's Explosive Allegations Against UK Authorities
In a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, on 10 January 2026, the billionaire tech mogul accused UK ministers of seeking to suppress free speech. This outburst came in direct response to the UK government's serious consideration of imposing heavy fines or even blocking access to X within the country.
The core issue involves Grok, which users have exploited to create and circulate non-consensual, sexualized images of women and children. Musk, however, deflected blame from the platform itself. He argued that users who generate such illegal content should be held liable, not the service. In one post, he wrote, "They just want to suppress free speech", and in another, "They want any excuse for censorship."
Responding to a user's claim about the UK having the world's highest arrest rate for social media comments, Musk quoted the post with the pointed question: "Why is the UK government so fascist?"
The UK's Stance and Global Repercussions
UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has taken a hardline position. She was quoted by The Guardian warning that the government is prepared to use "backstop powers" under the Online Safety Act to block X if it fails to comply with the law. "X needs to get a grip and get this material down," she stated, emphasizing full governmental support for regulator Ofcom.
Musk countered the threat by claiming that X has become the most downloaded app on UK app stores, suggesting its enduring popularity. He also reposted content arguing that Grok is not uniquely problematic, pointing out that rivals like OpenAI and Google can also generate similar imagery upon user request.
Grok's Mounting Troubles Beyond the UK
The scandal has triggered a global domino effect. Indonesia has already banned the Grok AI app and summoned X officials for discussions. In India, the platform has also faced significant scrutiny and heat from authorities.
Furthermore, pressure is mounting from the United States, where a group of US senators have written an open letter to Google and Apple. They have urged the tech giants to remove both X and Grok from their app stores for violating policies related to generating sexually explicit deepfakes.
This escalating situation pits Musk's absolutist stance on free speech against growing international demands for AI accountability and user safety, setting the stage for a major regulatory showdown.
