Indonesia Steps In To Block Musk's Grok Chatbot Over AI-Porn Risk
The Indonesian government has temporarily blocked Elon Musk's chatbot Grok, citing concerns over the risk of generating pornographic content. The move marks the first time a country has denied access to the AI tool.
Following a series of criticisms from governments and regulators across Europe and Asia, the startup behind Grok, XAI, announced that it would restrict image generation and editing to paying subscribers as part of an effort to address safeguard lapses. These lapses allowed for the creation of explicit content, including images depicting scantily clad children.
Indonesia's digital minister, Meutya Hafid, described the practice of non-consensual deepfakes as a "serious violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space." The government has summoned officials to discuss the matter further.
Elon Musk defended Grok, stating that users who create illicit content would face the same consequences as if they had uploaded it illegally. However, XAI's automated response to Reuters' inquiry appeared to be dismissive, labeling legacy media outlets as liars.
The decision follows a significant backlash over Grok's use in generating explicit images and manipulating women's bodies for sexual purposes. The tool has been shut off for non-paying users, but its image creation function remains accessible to subscribers.
The move has sparked international concern, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressing his disappointment at the social media platform's lack of responsibility. He called on the platform to take greater action against exploitative content.
As the debate around AI-generated porn continues to unfold, regulators and governments are re-examining their approaches to safeguarding citizens online.
The Indonesian government has temporarily blocked Elon Musk's chatbot Grok, citing concerns over the risk of generating pornographic content. The move marks the first time a country has denied access to the AI tool.
Following a series of criticisms from governments and regulators across Europe and Asia, the startup behind Grok, XAI, announced that it would restrict image generation and editing to paying subscribers as part of an effort to address safeguard lapses. These lapses allowed for the creation of explicit content, including images depicting scantily clad children.
Indonesia's digital minister, Meutya Hafid, described the practice of non-consensual deepfakes as a "serious violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space." The government has summoned officials to discuss the matter further.
Elon Musk defended Grok, stating that users who create illicit content would face the same consequences as if they had uploaded it illegally. However, XAI's automated response to Reuters' inquiry appeared to be dismissive, labeling legacy media outlets as liars.
The decision follows a significant backlash over Grok's use in generating explicit images and manipulating women's bodies for sexual purposes. The tool has been shut off for non-paying users, but its image creation function remains accessible to subscribers.
The move has sparked international concern, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressing his disappointment at the social media platform's lack of responsibility. He called on the platform to take greater action against exploitative content.
As the debate around AI-generated porn continues to unfold, regulators and governments are re-examining their approaches to safeguarding citizens online.
just heard that Indonesia blocked Grok chatbot cuz it was generating super explicit content 
I mean, I get where they're coming from, but what's the point of having AI if we can't even trust it not to create smut? 
The fact that non-consensual deepfakes are a "serious violation" is like, totally true and it's getting super serious 
. I'm all for holding XAI accountable, but can't they just take responsibility and be proactive about this instead of playing dumb? 
And what's up with the whole legacy media thing? Like, who are they to defend themselves against criticism? 
It's like, yeah, we get it, you're old news, but that doesn't make the problem any less real. Anyway, I hope this sparks a bigger conversation about AI safety and what we need to do to prevent these kinds of situations from happening in the future 
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... i mean, i get why the indonesian gov's all over it, but shouldn't elon just, like, implement better moderation on his chatbot? 
So this is what happens when you let rich folks play with AI fire... Indonesia blocks Grok because it's too reckless and now everyone's like "wait, how did we let this happen?" 
Elon Musk thinks he can just slap a label on something and make it legit? 
Anyway, I guess we're seeing some much-needed pushback from governments and the public on AI safety... let's hope this is just the beginning 
! Like, I get it, safety first and all that jazz, but can't we just chill about this Grok thing for now? 
Elon Musk is low-key being extra by defending his AI creation like it's some sort of digital freedom of speech or something 
. Can't say I blame them, though 
like that. AI's meant to be used for good, not some twisted game of cat & mouse 
. Hopefully XAI and others take this as an opportunity to get their act together 
.
It's just not right! And yeah, Elon Musk saying users will face the same consequences if they create illicit content is all well and good, but what about all the kids who might get hurt by these deepfakes in the future? 
The government should be taking a strong stance on this. I'm glad they're having an open conversation with XAI officials... hope they can figure out a way to make AI safer for everyone! 