Malaysia temporarily blocks Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok

Malaysia has temporarily blocked access to Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, following Indonesia’s earlier ban, amid allegations the platform was being used to create sexual content and manipulate real people’s images.

Authorities in both Southeast Asian countries said Grok, which is integrated with Musk-owned social media platform X for image creation and editing, was being exploited to produce pornographic and non-consensual content, including images of women and children, reports BBC.

Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said the tool had repeatedly been misused despite warnings issued to X earlier this year.

The suspension will remain in place until effective safeguards are implemented, it said.

The commission also urged the public to report harmful online content.

Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutia Hafid, described the use of Grok to generate sexual content as a direct violation of human rights and online safety. X has been summoned to provide an explanation.

The controversy is spreading beyond Southeast Asia. In the UK, pressure is mounting on Grok and X over potential breaches of online safety laws. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has voiced support for a possible ban, and media regulator Ofcom is expected to announce a decision soon. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the AI tool as “shameful” and “abhorrent.”