Indonesia and Malaysia Ban X’s Grok After Backlash Over Creating Undressed Images

Malaysia and Indonesia temporarily banned X’s Grok after the AI feature allowed users to generate sexist images of women and children. Other countries also raised concerns and urged the platform to comply with the regulations. X recently announced that Grok will no longer be allowed to edit photos of real people to depict them in undressed clothes.

Indonesia and Malaysia Block Musk’s Grok Chatbot

Malaysia and Indonesia temporarily block access to Elon Musk’s Grok after global outrage over the AI tool’s ability to generate sexualized images without people's consent.

Malaysian authorities said they will restrict access to Grok until X implements effective safeguards, a move announced one day after Indonesia took similar action.

Governments and regulators in several countries moved against Grok’s image-generation feature. The tool sparked widespread condemnation for allowing users to manipulate images of women and children, including digitally removing clothing and placing them in sexualized positions.

Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said on Sunday that it restricted access to Grok because the AI system can generate obscene, sexually explicit, indecent, grossly offensive, and non-consensual manipulated images, including content of women and minors.

Indonesia’s Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, said the government considers non-consensual sexual deepfakes a serious violation of human rights, personal dignity, and public safety in the digital space. The ministry also summoned X officials for discussions over the issue.

U.K. Ministers Back X Ban Over Sexualized Images

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said she would support media regulator Ofcom if it decides to block access to Elon Musk’s social media platform X in the U.K. for failing to comply with online safety laws.

Kendall described the sexual manipulation of images involving women and children as “despicable and abhorrent.”

She said the Online Safety Act grants authorities the power to block services in the U.K. if companies refuse to comply with the law, stressing that the government would fully back Ofcom if it chooses to use those powers.

On Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told MPs that X could lose its “right to self-regulate.” He said that if the platform fails to control Grok, the government will intervene and act swiftly to address the issue.

California Urges Grok to Act Immediately Over AI Deepfakes

California opened an investigation into the spread of AI deepfakes generated by Elon Musk’s AI model Grok.

State Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the investigation, saying reports have emerged in recent weeks about non-consensual, sexually explicit content produced by xAI and circulated online. He described the situation as shocking.

Bonta said, “This material, which depicts women and children in nude and sexually explicit situations, has been used to harass people across the internet.” The Democratic attorney general urged xAI to take immediate action to address the issue.

X to Stop Grok From Creating Undressed Images

X announced that it will stop its AI tool, Grok, from editing photos of real people to depict them in revealing clothing.

In a statement posted on the platform, X said it implemented technical safeguards to stop the Grok account from enabling image edits that show real people in bikinis, underwear, or similar attire in regions where the practice violates the law.

“We now geoblock the ability of all users to generate images of real people in bikinis, underwear, and similar attire via the Grok account and in Grok in X in those jurisdictions where it's illegal,” X said.

X also stated that only paid users can access Grok’s image-editing tools. The company said the changes add an extra layer of protection and help ensure accountability for users who attempt to misuse Grok in violation of the law or X’s policies.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had been informed that X is taking steps to ensure full compliance with U.K. law.

“If so, that is welcome,” Starmer said. “But we are not going to back down. They must act. We will take the necessary measures. We will strengthen existing laws and prepare for legislation if it needs to go further, and Ofcom will continue its independent investigation.”

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