Indonesia Suspends Elon Musk's Grok AI Over Pornographic Content
Indonesia suspended Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok on Saturday, January 4, 2025, over concerns about AI-generated pornographic content. The country's Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid announced the temporary block to protect women, children, and the public from non-consensual deepfake risks.
Grok faced global backlash after its image creation feature allowed users to sexualise pictures of women and children using simple text prompts. Indonesia is the first country to deny all access to the tool entirely. Elsewhere, Grok has been restricted to paying subscribers following the controversy.
The ministry has summoned representatives from social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to seek clarification. According to AFP journalists in Jakarta, the Grok X account remained active and responding to queries, including in Bahasa Indonesia, on Saturday evening.
Musk stated last week that anyone using Grok to "make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content." However, European officials and tech campaigners criticized limiting Grok's features to paying subscribers, arguing it fails to address concerns about sexually explicit deepfake content.
The suspension reflects growing global concern about AI misuse for non-consensual intimate imagery. Indonesia views such practices as serious violations of human rights, dignity, and digital security. The block remains temporary while authorities assess the situation.