Malaysia and Indonesia Block Grok
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia and Indonesia have taken the lead in blocking Grok, the AI chatbot by Elon Musk’s xAI, amid rising concerns that it was being used to create sexually explicit and nonconsensual images.
This decision highlights the increasing scrutiny of generative AI tools capable of producing realistic images, sounds, and text, raising worries that current safeguards are inadequate. The Grok chatbot, available through Musk’s social media platform X, has faced backlash for generating manipulated images, especially of women and children in inappropriate contexts.
Last week, Grok restricted image generation and editing to paying users in response to a global outcry over sexualized deepfakes, although critics argue it fell short of addressing the core issues.
The Associated Press reached out to xAI for comments but received a standardized reply claiming, “Legacy Media Lies,” a response also provided during prior inquiries about the backlash.
Authorities in both countries noted that existing regulations were ineffective in preventing the creation and dissemination of fake pornographic content, particularly targeting women and minors. Indonesia imposed a temporary ban on Grok on Saturday, swiftly followed by Malaysia on Sunday.
Indonesian Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid stated that nonconsensual sexual deepfakes are a significant infringement on human rights and public safety. The goal of this temporary block is to safeguard women, children, and the broader community from AI-generated fake pornographic content.
Preliminary evaluations revealed that Grok lacks sufficient measures to prevent the creation and spread of pornographic images involving real individuals, risking their privacy and potentially leading to emotional and social harm. Following a series of complaints regarding “repeated misuse,” the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission restricted access to Grok as a preventive measure to safeguard users while legal discussions continue.
