Florida Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna has issued a stern warning to UK Labour leader Keir Starmer regarding potential consequences should he proceed with plans to ban the social media platform X in Britain. Luna’s message, conveyed through the platform owned by Elon Musk, indicates that she is prepared to draft legislation aimed at sanctioning both Starmer and the UK as a whole.
In her post, Luna stated, “If Starmer is successful in banning X in Britain, I will move forward with legislation that is currently being drafted to sanction not only Starmer, but Britain as a whole.” She referenced past actions taken by the United States against foreign governments that restricted access to social media platforms, particularly citing a dispute with Brazil between 2024 and 2025 that resulted in tariffs and visa revocations due to concerns related to free speech violations.
Luna emphasized the need for reconsideration of this potential ban, warning, “There will be consequences.” She argued that technical issues during the early phases of new technology, especially artificial intelligence, are typically resolved swiftly. “X treats these matters seriously and acts promptly,” she added, framing the situation as a political battle against Elon Musk and the principles of free speech.
The congresswoman, known for her provocative social media presence, first gained attention in 2016 when she posed in a MAGA swimsuit, representing the “Make America Great Again” movement. Her comments come in the wake of a statement from Downing Street that criticized recent changes to Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok. The UK government described these changes as insufficient and insulting to victims of misogyny and sexual violence.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak remarked that limiting the image editing tool of Grok to paying users does not resolve the underlying issues. The spokesperson stated, “That move… simply turns an AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service. It’s not a solution.” The spokesperson further asserted the government’s commitment to addressing the creation of unlawful images on X, emphasizing that “all options” are available, including potential actions from the regulatory body Ofcom.
Ofcom has reportedly made urgent contact with X following allegations that users have prompted Grok to produce sexualized images, including those of minors. The regulatory body holds significant powers under the Online Safety Act, enabling it to impose fines or execute criminal actions against businesses that fail to comply with regulations.
In response to Luna’s warning, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson reiterated that the government’s focus remains on curbing the creation of illegal content rather than responding to external threats. The spokesperson refrained from commenting on whether the government might consider a boycott of X, stating that current efforts are directed at stopping the dissemination of harmful images.
X has maintained its commitment to combating illegal content, asserting that it takes action against such material by removing it and permanently suspending accounts involved. The company has pledged to collaborate with local governments and law enforcement agencies as needed to address these issues.
As the debate continues over the future of X in the UK, Luna’s warning underscores the complexities of international relations in the context of social media governance and free speech. The implications of this situation may resonate far beyond the political arena, impacting users and stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic.
