Canada Rejects Ban on X Despite Grok Deepfake Outrage; Minister Focuses on Criminalizing Content

The Canadian government has officially quelled speculation that it would follow the United Kingdom's lead in threatening to ban Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter). On Sunday, Evan Solomon, Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, confirmed that while the government condemns the platform's recent deepfake scandal, a shutdown is not on the table.


The clarification comes amidst a global firestorm surrounding Grok, X's AI chatbot, which has been widely reported to generate non-consensual sexualized images ("nudification") of women and minors.

Correcting the Record
Speculation of a Canadian ban spiked on Saturday after The Telegraph reported that the UK government was rallying international allies—including Canada—to form a united front against X, potentially involving coordinated blocks.

The Denial: In a statement released just after midnight on Sunday, January 11, Minister Solomon addressed the rumors directly on X: "Contrary to media reports, Canada is not considering a ban."

The Context: While Solomon acknowledged sharing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s deep concerns regarding the safety violations, he clarified that Ottawa’s strategy differs from London’s potential "nuclear option" of a platform blackout.

Canada's Strategy: Legislation Over Bans
Instead of blocking the app, the federal government is doubling down on legal repercussions for the creators and distributors of the content.

Bill C-16 (Protecting Victims Act): Solomon pointed to this pending legislation as Canada's primary tool. The bill aims to amend the Criminal Code to specifically define the creation and distribution of deepfake intimate images as a criminal offense.


"Deepfake Abuse is Violence": In an earlier statement, Solomon emphasized the human cost of the technology's misuse. "Deepfake sexual abuse is violence," he wrote, stressing that platforms have a duty to prevent harm, even if the government stops short of banning them entirely.

The "Grok" Crisis Continues
The controversy centers on X's generative AI tool, Grok, which users have exploited to strip clothing off subjects in photos or place them in sexually explicit scenarios.

UK vs. Canada: The UK regulator Ofcom has launched a formal investigation that could lead to massive fines or a temporary suspension of X in Britain. Canada’s approach, by contrast, aligns more with the U.S. model of targeting the specific illegal content while keeping the platform operational.

X's Response: X has thus far attempted to mitigate the issue by restricting image generation tools to paid subscribers, a move critics argue merely monetizes the abuse rather than preventing it.