Officials said the decision followed a series of complaints and international warnings about the misuse of Grok’s image-generation tools to create sexualised deepfakes. This included altered images of women and minors.
The move comes as governments and regulators in several regions – from Europe to Australia – raise questions about how social platforms are handling AI-generated content and digital harm.Why Indonesia blocked Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot
Indonesia’s communications and digital minister, Meutya Hafid, said the government views the creation and distribution of non-consensual sexual imagery as a serious violation.
“The government views the practice of non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a serious violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space,” Hafid said in a statement, according to Reuters.
Indonesia has strict online content rules, particularly around material deemed obscene. The country is home to the world’s largest Muslim population, and authorities have historically taken a firm position on digital morality and public decency. The ministry has summoned representatives from X to discuss the issue.
xAI and Elon Musk respond
xAI said earlier this week that it had restricted Grok’s image generation and editing tools to paying subscribers only, after acknowledging that earlier safeguards had failed.
Musk wrote on X that users who generate illegal content using Grok would face the same consequences as if they had uploaded illegal material themselves.
Anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 3, 2026
When Reuters sought comment from xAI, the response appeared automated and read: “Legacy Media Lies.” X did not immediately respond to a separate request, Reuters reported.
Global concerns over AI-generated sexual content
Australia has also raised concerns. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticised the use of AI tools for sexual exploitation, calling it ‘abhorrent’ and saying platforms must show greater responsibility.
Australia’s eSafety Office reported a recent increase in complaints related to AI-generated sexual content, including material created using Grok.
According to The Guardian, the regulator said it would issue removal notices where content violates the Online Safety Act.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also criticised the platform, and reports have suggested that fines, regulatory action, or restrictions on X are under consideration in the UK.
Indonesia’s block remains in place while discussions with X continue. The focus from regulators is on containment – limiting access, tightening safeguards, and preventing further misuse – as governments try to keep pace with rapidly evolving generative AI tools.
