Jakarta, February 3, 2026, 00:17 (WIB)
- After a three-week ban over sexualised images, Indonesia has lifted its suspension on Grok access.
- Officials emphasize that access comes with strict oversight and thorough verification of the new safeguards.
- Officials caution the service may face another suspension if violations continue.
Indonesia has lifted its ban on Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot, allowing the service to resume after sexualised images surfaced on the app, a government statement confirmed. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs said access would return under strict oversight and specific conditions, following a written assurance from X Corp. to enhance compliance with Indonesian regulations. The country suspended Grok three weeks ago, citing concerns over AI-generated pornographic content, marking the first time a nation has blocked the tool. (Reuters)
This shift comes as governments scramble to identify accountability when AI systems generate sexual content. Officials in several countries have condemned Grok’s outputs, launching investigations that turn content controls from a policy issue into an active enforcement challenge. (The Independent)
Officials aren’t labeling this a clean restart. The comeback depends on X’s ability to prevent Grok from generating and distributing nonconsensual sexual images—a form of abuse that has put platforms and AI companies under tough regulatory scrutiny.
Senior ministry official Alexander Sabar described the written commitment as outlining “concrete steps” toward improving services and preventing abuse. He emphasized, “This commitment is the basis for evaluation, not the end of the supervision process,” noting that X has implemented “layered” safeguards to be monitored continuously. (Anadolu Ajansı)
X Corp and xAI, the company behind Grok, have yet to reply to emailed requests for comment. (CNA)
Indonesia’s statement noted that X informed the ministry it had limited access to certain features to prevent misuse. Indonesia and Malaysia were the first to block Grok back in January, with Malaysia lifting its temporary ban after the company boosted security, AP reported. Sabar cautioned that the ministry might take further action, including suspending access, “if inconsistencies or further violations are found.” (AP News)
The crackdown targets deepfakes—AI-generated or altered images that depict people nude or in sexual scenarios without their consent. These files spread rapidly, and removing them often sparks a prolonged, complicated battle.
Grok is part of Musk’s larger consumer AI strategy, going head-to-head with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. Regulators see the potential, but they also recognize the danger: a single new feature can quickly expand the divide between a company’s promises and actual user experience.
Indonesia is treating the reopening more as a trial than a full lift of the ban. Should the promised safeguards fall short, the restrictions could be reinstated. Other governments observing this might opt to block first and ask questions later, playing it safe.
