Indonesia has become the first country to block access to Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot, citing concerns that the artificial intelligence tool is being used to generate non-consensual sexual deepfake imagery, including content involving women and minors.
Authorities said the move was taken to protect citizens from what they described as a growing digital threat. In a statement, Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, said the government was responding to the spread of non-consensual sexual deepfakes, which she described as a serious violation of human rights, dignity, and public safety in the digital space.
According to Hafid, the temporary block is aimed at safeguarding women, children, and the wider public from the risks posed by fake pornographic content generated through artificial intelligence technologies.
The decision follows rising global concern over Grok’s integration with Musk’s social media platform X, where users have been able to generate or manipulate images by interacting with the chatbot. In recent weeks, the platform has seen a surge in AI-altered images, prompting warnings from child protection groups that the technology could be exploited by criminal actors.
In response to backlash, X restricted some AI image-generation features to paying subscribers and introduced identity verification requirements. Critics, however, argue that these measures do not go far enough.
Indonesia, which enforces strict online obscenity laws, has summoned representatives of X following the block. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is also reviewing the issue, with media regulator Ofcom assessing whether X may be in breach of the country’s Online Safety Act. UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said she would support strong regulatory action if necessary.
Elon Musk has dismissed the criticism, arguing that the backlash is driven by attempts to suppress free speech. X, in a statement from its Safety account, said it takes action against illegal content, including child sexual abuse material, by removing such content, suspending accounts, and cooperating with law enforcement.
The platform added that users who prompt Grok to create illegal material will face the same consequences as those who upload such content directly.
