A senior U.S. State Department official indicated that Washington could take retaliatory steps if British regulators move forward with a potential ban on Elon Musk’s social media platform X over concerns about AI-generated content. The warning came in comments by Sarah B. Rogers, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, during an interview with a British broadcaster, where she stressed that “nothing is off the table” if the United Kingdom restricts or bans X.
Rogers framed the issue as one of free speech, suggesting that actions against X could have broader implications for political expression and digital rights. She said the United States would first observe how the UK government proceeds before deciding on any response, but left open the possibility of last-resort measures if regulators fully prohibit the platform’s operation within British borders.
The potential ban stems from an ongoing investigation by Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, under powers granted by the Online Safety Act. Ofcom is examining complaints that X’s AI chatbot, Grok, was being used to generate sexualized deepfake images, including images involving minors, and that the platform did not fully prevent or remove such content. The regulator has authority to fine, penalize, or even ban platforms that fail to protect users from illegal content.
The dispute has escalated into a diplomatic flashpoint, with U.S. lawmakers also weighing in. Representative Anna Paulina Luna has said she is preparing legislation that would impose sanctions on the United Kingdom if it bans X, arguing that such a move would be a politically motivated attack on the platform and on free speech more broadly.
In her remarks to the British audience, Rogers suggested that political bias may be at the heart of the regulatory push, arguing that some UK authorities may oppose X because of its political orientation and the perspectives it amplifies. She characterized the situation as more than a technical legal dispute, but as a broader struggle over openness in public discourse.
The comments by the U.S. official underline growing tensions between Washington and London over regulation of digital platforms and emerging technologies like AI. As nations grapple with how to police online content while protecting speech, the clash over X highlights the complex intersection of technology, politics, and diplomacy in the modern age.
