- Indonesia cites risk of AI‑generated sexualised deepfakes to justify blocking Grok.
- Governments and watchdogs increasingly push for stronger safeguards on generative AI tools.
What happened：Nation blocks chatbot over explicit image concerns
Indonesia’s communications and digital ministry temporarily blocked access to Grok—an AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s company xAI—on 10 January 2026. The move followed reports that Grok’s image generation was being used to create non‑consensual sexualised deepfake content, including explicit depictions of women and minors.
Minister Meutya Hafid said the ban aimed to protect women, children and the public from harm tied to AI‑generated pornographic content. Indonesia’s action makes it the first country in the world to impose such a restriction on Grok.
In response to global criticism, xAI had limited Grok’s image generation and editing features to paying users while it works on security gaps. However, some reports suggest that restrictive measures may not fully block access to image tools across all platforms.
Why it’s important
This incident highlights a growing global unease about the rapid deployment of generative AI without robust safety controls. Nations now face increasing pressure to balance innovation with digital rights and public protection.
Indonesia’s actions have encouraged similar moves elsewhere. Malaysia also imposed temporary restrictions on Grok access, citing repeated misuse. Meanwhile, regulators in the European Union and United Kingdom are examining risks around deepfakes and harmful AI content.
Critics argue that simply restricting access or paywalling features does not sufficiently address underlying safety failures. Some researchers warn that widespread generation of explicit deepfakes could normalise harmful content and complicate law enforcement responses.
This episode may prompt more rigorous AI oversight frameworks and raise broader questions about how societies manage tools that can produce realistic but damaging content. Compliance, enforcement and user accountability remain central to future policy debates.
Also read: EU Extends Retention Order on X’s Grok AI Records to 2026
Also read: Elon Musk’s xAI raises $20bn amid mounting backlash over Grok AI deepfakes
