Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian authorities have moved to temporarily block Grok, a generative AI tool created by xAI, citing its alleged role in producing and spreading sexually explicit and non-consensual images online.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said the restriction came into force on January 11, 2026, after repeated incidents in which the AI was used to generate obscene and manipulated content, including material involving women and minors.
Regulators said the decision was taken after earlier warnings and formal notices to X Corp. and xAI failed to curb the circulation of such content. Both companies are linked to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
According to the MCMC, access to Grok will remain suspended until effective technical and policy safeguards are introduced to prevent further misuse. The commission added that it is willing to engage with the companies if concrete corrective measures are proposed.
Malaysia’s action mirrors steps taken earlier by Indonesia, which became the first country to temporarily block Grok. Indonesia’s Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid described non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a grave threat to human dignity and digital safety, a stance reported by The Guardian.
About Grok
Developed by xAI, Grok is an artificial intelligence assistant embedded within the X platform. It allows users to generate text and images through prompts and is available in both free and premium versions.
