X Now Allows Only Verified Users to Generate AI Images After UK Warning

Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has restricted its AI image-generation and editing tool to verified and paying users amid a mounting controversy over the misuse of artificial intelligence to create non-consensual and sexually suggestive imagery.

A move that follows a stern warning from the UK government that a ban on the service remains “on the table” if meaningful action isn’t taken.

Image generation and editing are currently limited to verified Premium subscribers. You can subscribe to unlock these features: https://t.co/KDIL6370aj

— Grok (@grok) January 10, 2026

The decision affects Grok, the AI chatbot integrated with X that was being used to generate manipulated images, including depictions of women and minors in sexually explicit contexts.

Under the changes announced this week, Grok will only respond to image-generation requests from users who have paid for subscription tiers that require identity verification, a shift the company says will improve traceability and accountability.

Government Pressure and Regulatory Threats

The restriction comes after UK authorities publicly condemned the proliferation of deepfake and intimate AI-generated images circulating on the platform, some showing women and children in distressing or inappropriate scenarios.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that regulators could employ their legal powers under the Online Safety Act to block access to X in the UK if the platform fails to act decisively against harmful content.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has said she would fully support media regulator Ofcom if it decides to block access to X in the UK for breaching the country’s online safety laws.

Criticism From Campaigners and Politicians

Despite the platform’s announcement, critics argue that limiting Grok’s image capabilities to verified or paying users is insufficient and merely monetizes a tool capable of producing harmful content rather than eliminating the underlying risk.

Advocacy groups and policymakers in the UK have widely condemned the move, with Downing Street calling the change “insulting to victims of misogyny and sexual violence,” saying it effectively turns the generation of unlawful images into a premium service rather than stopping abuse.

Platform Response and Global Scrutiny

X and its AI unit xAI insist they continue to enforce policies against illegal content and promise cooperation with authorities.

However, industry observers note that even with restrictions, Grok, on X or through standalone apps and websites, may still generate explicit material when prompted, leaving questions about the effectiveness of the latest measures.

International regulators, including those in the European Union and other countries, are also scrutinizing the platform’s response as part of a broader debate over the responsible deployment of generative AI technologies online.

As the UK government presses for stronger safeguards and clearer enforcement, all eyes are on whether X will implement more comprehensive solutions or face escalating regulatory consequences.

Elon Musk’s Reaction After UK Warning

Elon Musk has publicly pushed back against the UK government’s warning to potentially ban X, calling it an attack on free expression.

In a repost from @dogeofficialceo, Musk wrote, “They just want to suppress free speech,” signaling his opposition to the regulatory pressure being placed on the platform.

They just want to suppress free speech https://t.co/IuEnsi1QSX

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 10, 2026

The comment came just after X limited its AI image generation tools to verified accounts, a move triggered by mounting criticism from UK officials over the misuse of Grok to create harmful and non-consensual images.

Source: See Whole Controversy on X