rki.news
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Malaysia’s communications regulator has temporarily blocked access to the Grok artificial intelligence chatbot developed by xAI and integrated with social media platform X, citing serious concerns over obscene and harmful content generated by the tool.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said the restriction, effective Jan. 11, follows repeated misuse of Grok to produce obscene, sexually explicit, indecent, and non-consensual manipulated images, including content involving women and minors, despite earlier regulatory engagement and formal notices issued to X Corp. and xAI LLC.
MCMC said it issued notices on Jan. 3 and Jan. 8 requiring effective technical safeguards and stronger content-moderation measures to prevent AI-generated material that could violate Malaysian law. However, the regulator said responses from X were inadequate, relying largely on user-initiated reporting rather than preventive safeguards.
The temporary restriction will remain in place until effective protective measures are implemented, particularly to prevent harmful content involving women and children. The regulator also urged the public to report objectionable material and cooperate with authorities to strengthen online safety.
The move has drawn wide international attention, with multiple news agencies, including AFP, Reuters, and major regional outlets, reporting on Malaysia’s action amid growing global scrutiny of AI-generated harmful content.