Grok AI, the artificial intelligence tool built into X (formerly Twitter), is facing backlash after users reportedly used it to create deepfake images of real people without their consent. In response, X has now limited image editing and generation to paying subscribers only. Should a social media company let its AI run wild, or does this kind of restriction come far too late?
Here’s how it happened. Grok, which users on X can tag to answer questions, explain posts, or generate media, quickly became a lightning rod for controversy. People began asking it to create sexualized fake images of others, including public figures, pulled straight from the platform. The reaction was fierce, sparking calls for accountability and regulation. Under pressure, X quietly locked down Grok’s image features, now keeping them behind a paywall.
When non-paying users try to use image editing on X, a message pops up: “Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers.” That’s the company’s new line in the sand — if you aren’t paying for the Premium version, you can’t manipulate images at all.
11. And yes, Starmer does not look good in a bikini. 👙 pic.twitter.com/mdF3u98KYa
— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) January 11, 2026
The scrutiny even crossed the Atlantic. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the situation, calling Grok’s use for explicit deepfakes “disgusting” during a radio interview. “X need to get their act together and get this material down,” he said. “And we will take action on this because it’s simply not tolerable.”
But critics point to deeper hypocrisy. According to The Times of London, more than 12,000 people were arrested in the UK in 2023 alone for so-called “offensive” posts online — that’s over thirty arrests every day. Many involved speech critical of Islam or government policies. So while AI misuse sparks outrage, government overreach in monitoring speech goes almost unchecked.
Britain is a police state.
UK: A British man was arrested at 4am, in front of his cancer-stricken wife, for saying he dislikes seeing Palestinian flags everywhere on social media.
No threat. No violence. Just an opinion.
This isn’t democracy.
This is totalitarianism. pic.twitter.com/2l6644AG8o
— Yossi BenYakar (@YossiBenYakar) January 11, 2026
🇬🇧 British Police are now trying to arrest little girls for viewing social media posts.
The fucking state of the UK Police Force. 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/Ry0A5kWLht
— 🇬🇧 Johannes 🇬🇧 Reform UK (@Johanne31785773) September 21, 2025
X owner Elon Musk says Starmer is in the wrong and that Grok does not generate illegal images, despite the international outcry. The Tesla and SpaceX owner addd that “history will not be kind” to Sir Keir Starmer after the prime minister said he would “not back down” in his fight with X.
For now, Grok still answers questions and provides text-based information on X. But its image generation powers are locked behind a paywall. The bigger question remains: who really controls what users can say, show, or share online, the tech companies or the people themselves?
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English (US) · 