The social media giant has caused outrage over a new AI ‘undressing’ feature. But should central and local governments really abandon ship?
According to former Labour minister Louise Haigh, it would be ‘unconscionable to use [X] for another minute’ following the viral spread of 2026’s first worrying online activity.
Since Christmas, some users of the platform formerly known as Twitter have been engaged in an online trend known as ‘put her in a bikini’. By exploiting a new feature in the native AI model Grok, generative images of scantily clad women, and in many cases children, have been created and shared without permission from the person in the image.
This alone has led to outrage and accusations of breaching privacy, exploitation, and child pornography laws. However, a more worrying side to the craze has also seen Grok asked to reposition the unwitting subjects in sexual poses, add cigarette burns, bruises, blood and bodily fluids to the photograph.
X has promised anyone sharing illegal content will face severe consequences. But critics have pointed to a slow, lacklustre response – including an initial message by owner Elon Musk which suggested reports of ‘undressing’ were ‘Legacy Media Lies’ – as signs the network is not serious about taking action. A point which is likely to have gained traction following Musk’s decision to post AI generated images of himself wearing a bikini, which some have taken as goading while others claim this proves public outrage is overblown.
Today, Monday 12th January 2026, UK communications regulator Ofcom has confirmed a formal investigation will begin. According to a government statement, an outright ban of the platform could be possible, although others have pointed to the ease of circumventing restrictions via technology such as VPNs. Analysts have also warned this could play into the hands of X, Musk and advocates, who cite freedom of speech as a reason not prohibit access.
A number of influential figures – including Haigh – are urging the government to abandon X altogether and focus social media efforts on other networks, setting a precedent. At the time of writing, no other AI model integrated with a social network has been coded to ‘undress’ people. The list of names in support of a Downing Street exodus also includes Britain’s Public Relations & Communications Association (PRCA).
‘I call on my party and my government to remove themselves entirely from X and communicate with the public where they actually participate online and can be protected from such illegality,’ Haigh said on Thursday. The revelations around the enablement, if not encouragement, of child sexual abuse mean it is unconscionable to use the site for another minute.’
Last Wednesday, the Commons Women and Equalities Committee announced it would stop using the platform. At the time, Labour Chair Sarah Owen MP explained: ‘it has become increasingly clear that X is not an appropriate platform to be using for our communications.’
In comparison, James Lyons, Downing Street’s former Director of Strategic Communications until September 2025, believed quitting X could be a dangerous move.
‘There are a number of reasons why the government are right to keep it under review, but not to leap in and come off here,’ he told PoliticsHome. ‘I take the view that your job in political communication is to persuade people, and to persuade people, you have to engage, and I think you should be using all the platforms and forums that you can to do that… And you don’t want to leave a vacuum.’
Image: Salvador Rios / Unsplash
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