Countries block Grok over deepfakes
Rules and risks
Indonesia and Malaysia blocked xAI’s Grok after it was used to make sexual images of real people.
What happened
- In early January, users made Grok, the chatbot of Elon Musk’s xAI, produce sexualized edits of photos of real people, including minors.
- Indonesia and Malaysia blocked Grok on January 10–11. xAI limited image tools to paying users. The UK regulator Ofcom opened an investigation into X in February. Both bans were later lifted.
Why it matters for you
Image tools without strong safeguards bring legal and reputational risk. Never upload photos of other people to an AI editor without their consent.
Sources
- Malaysia, Indonesia become first to block Musk’s Grok over AI deepfakes, NPR, January 12, 2026.
- Indonesia becomes first country to block xAI’s Grok, Business Today, January 10, 2026.
Notes for learning. Nothing here is investment advice. All news