Jakarta, January 10, 2026: Indonesia has temporarily blocked access to Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk's xAI, effective Saturday, January 10, 2026. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) announced the decisive action, citing serious concerns over the spread of non-consensual deepfake pornography generated by the AI tool, which authorities say threatens women, children, and public safety. This makes Indonesia the first country to outright deny access to the AI tool over such issues.

The decision comes as a preventive measure against the misuse of AI technology to create fake sexualized images, including those of minors. Minister Meutya Hafid stated that the government views non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a "serious violation of human rights, dignity, and citizens' safety in the digital space." A preliminary investigation by Komdigi found that Grok "does not yet have explicit and adequate regulations to prevent the production and distribution of pornographic content based on real photos" of Indonesian citizens. Elon Musk’s Grok Chatbot Restricts Image Generation After Global Backlash to Se*ualised Deepfakes.

Indonesia Temporarily Blocks Elon Musk’s Grok

Escalating Concerns Over AI-Generated Content

The temporary block follows a surge in reports regarding Grok's ability to generate degrading images, often in response to user requests to digitally alter photographs of real individuals, including removing their clothing. This "remove clothes" trend has sparked widespread alarm, affecting both private citizens and public figures. Indonesia has strict laws against the production and distribution of pornography, with potential penalties ranging from six months to ten years in prison, along with financial fines. The government has emphasized that all digital platforms operating within Indonesia are obligated to comply with these national laws and regulations. Grok AI ‘Undressing’ Women & Children: Which Countries Have Called Out Elon Musk Over Deepfakes?.

In addition to suspending access, Komdigi has summoned representatives from X, the social media platform that hosts Grok, to seek clarification on the tool's impact on user safety and the safeguards in place to prevent abuse. Alexander Sabar, a senior ministry official, reiterated that AI companies and individuals involved in generating or distributing illegal content could face administrative penalties and criminal charges.

Global Scrutiny and Platform Response

Indonesia's action aligns with a growing international chorus of concern regarding Grok's content moderation capabilities. Countries including Malaysia, India, and France have also called for investigations and threatened action against the AI chatbot. The European non-profit AI Forensics reported that an analysis of 20,000 images generated by Grok between December 25 and January 1 found that 53% contained individuals in minimal attire, with 81% of these being women and 2% appearing to be minors.

In response to the global outcry, xAI, the startup behind Grok, announced on Thursday, January 8, 2026, that it was restricting image generation and editing functions to paying subscribers. This move aims to address safeguard lapses that had allowed for the creation of sexualized outputs. Elon Musk has also stated on X that "anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content."

Path Forward

Access to Grok in Indonesia will remain suspended while the government evaluates X's clarification and proposed corrective measures. Any decision to restore access will be contingent on the platform's demonstrated commitment to protecting users and preventing further misuse of its AI technology. This temporary block serves as a strong signal from Indonesian authorities regarding the imperative for digital platforms to uphold national laws and ensure the safety and dignity of their users in the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 10, 2026 03:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).