UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed government backing for Ofcom's potential block of X over Grok AI deepfakes sexualising women and children. US lawmakers, including Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, immediately threatened visa revocations and entry bans for British officials, comparing the move to Russian censorship. The transatlantic dispute centers on the Online Safety Act and X's content moderation failures.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned X that Britain would regulate Grok if the platform cannot control its own AI. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy discussed the deepfake crisis with US Vice President JD Vance, finding sympathy on the issue but facing broader American resistance to content restrictions. Elon Musk questioned Britain's approach, posting that the government acted "fascist."

Washington is preparing sanctions that could bar UK officials from entry, with sources telling The Telegraph that travelers might face questioning or subpoenas at the border. The State Department criticized the proposed ban as "Russia-style" censorship and vowed to help British citizens circumvent any restrictions. This follows prior US visa denials against European censorship advocates in late 2025.