Indonesia temporarily blocks access to Grok over sexualised images
JAKARTA: Indonesia temporarily blocks access to Grok over sexualised images, becoming the first country to restrict the Elon Musk-owned AI chatbot amid growing global concerns over the spread of AI-generated pornographic content.
The Indonesian government on Saturday blocked access to Grok, citing the risk of sexually explicit images generated by artificial intelligence. The decision follows increasing criticism from governments and regulators across Europe and Asia, some of whom have launched inquiries into sexualised content circulating on the platform.
Grok is developed by xAI, a startup founded by Elon Musk. The company said on Thursday that it had restricted image generation and editing features to paying subscribers as it worked to address safeguard failures that had allowed sexualised outputs, including depictions of scantily clad children.
Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid said the government viewed the creation and circulation of non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a serious violation of human rights, personal dignity, and the digital security of citizens. She said such practices posed significant risks in the online space and required firm regulatory action.
The communications ministry has also summoned officials from X, formerly Twitter, to discuss the matter and seek clarification regarding content moderation and platform safeguards.
Elon Musk said in a post on X that anyone using Grok to produce illegal content would face the same consequences as if they had uploaded illegal material directly to the platform. However, xAI responded to a Reuters request for comment with what appeared to be an automated message stating, “Legacy Media Lies.” X did not immediately respond to a separate request for comment.
Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, enforces strict regulations against the online distribution of content deemed obscene. Authorities said the temporary block would remain in place until adequate safeguards are implemented to prevent the generation and dissemination of sexualised content.
The move highlights the growing global debate over artificial intelligence regulation, particularly around generative AI tools and their potential misuse, as governments seek to balance technological innovation with public safety and ethical standards.
