Malaysia has temporarily blocked access to Grok, the AI chatbot developed by xAI, due to concerns over the generation and distribution of obscene and sexually explicit content, the country’s communications and multimedia regulator confirmed on Sunday.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said the move follows formal notices issued to X Corp and xAI LLC on January 3 and January 8, requesting the implementation of technical protection measures to curb misuse of the AI platform.
According to the MCMC, “This action follows repeated misuse of Grok to generate obscene, sexually explicit, indecent, grossly offensive, and non-consensual manipulated images, including content involving women and minors, despite prior regulatory engagement and formal notices.”
The commission added that the temporary ban is a precautionary measure while legislative and regulatory processes are ongoing. Access to Grok will remain restricted until effective safeguards are in place, particularly to prevent content involving women and children.
The MCMC also encouraged the public to report inappropriate or harmful content generated by the AI chatbot. The regulator emphasized that the measure aims to protect vulnerable groups from exploitation and ensure AI platforms operate responsibly within Malaysia’s legal framework.
This action reflects the growing global scrutiny of AI technologies and highlights the challenges regulators face in balancing innovation with user safety. Authorities have stated that cooperation with AI developers is crucial to prevent further misuse while allowing safe and responsible access to emerging AI tools.