Keir Starmer is putting a spin on the old adage “If you can’t beat them, join them.” When it comes to Elon Musk’s X, Britain’s Prime Minister seems to be of the view that “If you can’t beat them, ban them.”
Over the past week, his government has been floating the idea of blocking or banning X in the UK, after Grok (the platform’s built-in AI tool) was reportedly used to generate non-consensual sexualised images, including of minors.
Starmer said he wanted “all options” on the table, up to and including a ban, and leaned on Ofcom (officially the Office of Communications) to do the dirty work by using the Online Safety Act as an enforcement weapon.
Let’s be crystal clear: the creation and distribution of sexual abuse material, real or synthetic, is vile, criminal, and should be crushed by the full force of the law. The victims of such crimes deserve protection and justice, not PR statements and political stunts.
But here’s the part we're supposed to accept without question: because a criminal used a certain tool, the state should threaten to ban the town square.
That’s the modern progressive politician's reflex. Whether it's a gun, a machete or a social media platform, if something bad happens, the answer is never “catch the perpetrators.” It’s always “ban something,” “increase the regulations,” “tighten the rules,” and, in general, punish everyone who has done (and will continue to do) the right thing.
Of course, this is political window dressing. No one truly believes Starmer wants to ban X because its AI tool creates naughty pictures. Since Elon Musk bought Twitter and transformed it into the free speech powerhouse that is X, the platform has been a thorn in the side for leftist politicians the world over, but particularly the UK.
The Left are particularly annoyed over X because Twitter was once their plaything and safe space where everyday conservative opinions were banned and leftist views were amplified. Now, no one is banned and politicians like Starmer are just outraged by it.
So the Grok excuse is just that: an excuse.
They want to normalise the idea that access to a major communications platform is something they can flick on and off “for your safety,” and if they succeed in doing that, then they’ve created the perfect template for future abuse.
Today it’s “AI deepfakes.” Tomorrow it’s “misinformation.” Next week it’s “social cohesion.” Then it’s “election integrity.” And before you know it, the definition of “harm” mysteriously expands to include “undermining democracy,” which, in normal language, means criticising leftist governments.
Australia has already been warming up for this kind of paternalism. Anthony Albanese has also jumped on the bandwagon about the misuse of Grok, and Australia’s online safety apparatus doesn't need much encouragement to go after X. The eSafety Commissioner seems to have a particularly unhealthy obsession with Elon Musk.
So will Albanese actually ban X? Senator Ralph Babet raised the spectre over the weekend. Given the track record of the Albanese Government, with their failed plans to “combat misinformation”, their social media age verification laws and the looming digital duty of care rules, anything is possible.
While it is being used as a smokescreen, the reality is that banning X won’t ban AI “nudification,” synthetic abuse, or deepfake exploitation. It just pushes it elsewhere... to other apps, other platforms, other jurisdictions, other corners of the internet.
What would work is relentless criminal enforcement against creators and distributors of synthetic sexual abuse material, fast warrants, fast takedowns, and real penalties. Combine that with platform liability for failures to remove illegal content: clear, targeted obligations that punish negligence, not speech. Governments could work with tech firms to ensure there are guardrails on generative tools that make exploitation harder and prosecution easier.
Instead, we’re offered the usual bargain: give the state more power and trust it won’t be used against you later.
And that might be the biggest deepfake of all.
Thought for the Day
“Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.” – Benjamin Franklin
I’m a journalist, former politician, Christian, and campaign director for CitizenGO Australia. My mission is to challenge the media lies, government overreach, and corporate censorship that threaten our freedoms.
