Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan Can the Government hold Elon Musk and Grok to account?
Jan 16, 2026
Join political correspondent Harry McGee, journalist Ellen Coyne, and London correspondent Mark Paul as they delve into the explosive Grok app controversy. They discuss the legal loopholes surrounding non-consensual intimate images and the urgent need for updated regulations. The conversation also touches on the staggering energy consumption of a Dublin data center and the political fallout from Robert Jenrick's defection to Reform UK, analyzing its implications for the Conservative Party and the broader climate of UK politics.
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Platforms Push The Legal Limit
- Big platforms test legal boundaries and will push to the line rather than act morally.
- Relying solely on moral appeals to firms like X is ineffective; legal and regulatory pressure is needed.
Regulate Harmful AI As Public Infrastructure
- Treat harmful AI tools as public-infrastructure risks and regulate their availability, not just user actions.
- Consider placing stronger controls on platforms that host generation tools accessible to the public.
Journalist's Direct Test Of Grok
- Ellen Coyne tested Grok and initially could generate sexualised images of herself and underage pictures.
- Within minutes the app blurred results, showing rapid but inconsistent platform responses.
