Indonesia has allowed Grok, a chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s company xAI and hosted on the social platform X, to resume operations after the firm gave formal assurances to regulators following a temporary nationwide ban.
The decision was confirmed on Sunday by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, which said X had outlined new safeguards to prevent the misuse that led to Grok’s suspension last month. Authorities said the platform would remain under close supervision.
The move follows growing pressure on governments worldwide to rein in digital tools capable of generating harmful material, particularly involving women and minors.
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Indonesia blocked Grok in January after the service was used to produce sexualised images of women and children, triggering public outrage and regulatory scrutiny. The ban was imposed just days after xAI limited the image generation feature for most users on X.
In a letter sent to Communications Minister Meutya Hafid, X said it had taken steps to address the violations and prevent similar abuse in the future, according to a ministry statement.
“The government will continue to monitor the platform to ensure there are no further breaches, including the spread of illegal material or violations of child protection principles,” the ministry said.
Officials did not provide details on the specific technical changes made by X but stressed that compliance would be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
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Indonesia was not alone in taking action. Several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines and Malaysia, also restricted access to Grok amid similar concerns.
Beyond the region, regulators in France and the United Kingdom have opened inquiries into potential misuse of the service, according to reports by Reuters and AFP. European watchdogs are examining whether existing safeguards are sufficient to prevent harmful content.
The controversy has added to broader debates about how quickly emerging digital programmes are deployed compared to the pace of regulation, especially when content moderation fails.
Indonesian officials said the reinstatement does not signal a relaxation of standards. Any further violations could result in renewed sanctions, including another suspension.
