Jakarta – Indonesian authorities have lifted their temporary ban on Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok, allowing the platform to operate once more under firm regulatory controls. This development follows earlier concerns regarding the chatbot's capacity to produce sexually explicit and nonconsensual imagery, which led to its initial suspension in the country.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs announced on Sunday that X Corp, the social media enterprise behind Grok, provided a formal written assurance outlining enhancements intended to mitigate misuse and comply fully with Indonesian law. Specific measures reportedly include limitations on certain features within Grok to prevent abuse.
Indonesia was not alone in suspending the platform; Malaysia also imposed similar restrictions in January due to comparable issues with the misuse of Grok's functionalities. Malaysian regulators subsequently lifted their ban after X Corp demonstrated implementation of security improvements and preventive steps. Authorities in Malaysia engaged with representatives from X recently, signaling ongoing monitoring to ensure continued compliance and public safety.
Alexander Sabar, who serves as the Director General of Digital Space Supervision at Indonesia's communications ministry, emphasized that the reinstatement of Grok's operations is contingent upon ongoing assessment. Indonesian officials will closely verify the effectiveness of the safeguards introduced by X Corp to ensure that prohibited content, including illegal materials and violations involving child protection, are effectively restricted.
Moreover, Sabar warned that any detected irregularities or breaches in Grok's adherence to regulations would prompt immediate intervention, which could include re-suspending the service to protect users and uphold the country's legal framework.