Malaysia joins Indonesia in restricting Grok AI after obscene image backlash

Malaysia has decided to temporarily block access to Grok on Sunday, joining a list of countries taking action after the generative artificial intelligence chatbot sparked a global backlash by allowing users to create sexually explicit images of young girls and women.  

Elon Musk-led xAI, the firm behind Grok said it would restrict image generation and editing to paying subscribers as it addressed lapses that allowed users on X to produce sexualised content of others, often without consent on Thursday.  

Various other countries like UK, Indonesia, India, and Australia have voiced their concern against Grok and Indonesia on Saturday became the first country to temporarily deny access to the bot.

Restrict access to Grok 

Malaysia has joined hands with Indonesia and in a statement on Sunday, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said it would restrict access to Grok following repeated misuse of the tool “to generate obscene, sexually explicit, indecent, grossly offensive, and non-consensual manipulated images, including content involving women and minors.”

MCMC said it has issued notices to X and xAI this month to demand the implementation of effective technical and moderation safeguards, but the received responses relied primarily on user-initiated reporting mechanisms and failed to address the risks posed by the design and operation of the AI tools.

‘To prevent harm’ 

“MCMC considers this insufficient to prevent harm or ensure legal compliance,” it said.

MCMC said access to Grok would be restricted until further notice and effective safeguards should be implemented to ensure user safety, they also added that it was open to engaging with the firms.

Strict laws against obscene content 

Muslim-majority Malaysia has strict laws governing online content, including a ban on obscene and pornographic materials.  

It has put internet companies under greater scrutiny in recent years in response to what it calls a rise in harmful content. Malaysia is considering barring users younger than 16 from accessing social media like the one Australia did to avoid young users to experience ill content online.