Indonesia has become the first country to block access to Elon Musk’s social media platform X, citing concerns over the spread of non-consensual and pornographic images generated through its artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok.
The decision was announced by Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, which said the temporary ban was aimed at protecting citizens from what it described as escalating digital harm, particularly the creation of sexually explicit deepfake images involving women and children.
In a statement, the minister of communication and digital affairs, Meutya Hafid, said the government acted in response to the growing use of AI tools to manipulate images without consent. She described the practice as “a serious violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space.”
Hafid said access to Grok had been blocked to shield the public from the risks posed by AI-generated pornographic content, adding that Indonesia’s strict online obscenity laws leave little tolerance for such material.
The move follows mounting global scrutiny of Grok’s integration into X, where users can generate AI-altered or fabricated images by tagging the chatbot in posts. In recent weeks, the platform has been inundated with manipulated images, many depicting women in sexualised contexts. Some reports have also raised alarms over content that appears to involve minors.
Child-protection groups, including the Internet Watch Foundation, have warned that bad actors are already exploiting AI image tools to create material that could amount to child sexual abuse imagery, intensifying calls for stronger safeguards.
In response to criticism, X has restricted AI image generation to paying subscribers and introduced additional identity verification requirements. However, critics argue the measures are insufficient, noting that image manipulation can still occur through other tools on the platform and via Grok’s standalone website.
Indonesian authorities have summoned representatives of X following the ban, as regulators continue to assess whether the platform can comply with local laws. The development has also drawn attention in other jurisdictions. In the United Kingdom, media regulator Ofcom is reviewing whether X is breaching the Online Safety Act, with senior government officials indicating they would support tougher enforcement if necessary.
X owner Elon Musk has rejected calls for stricter controls, framing the backlash as an attempt to curb free speech. He has previously argued that his critics are using the controversy to justify censorship.
In a statement addressing the issue, X said it removes illegal content, permanently suspends offending accounts, and cooperates with law enforcement when required. The company warned that users who prompt Grok to generate illegal material would face the same penalties as those who upload such content directly.
Indonesia’s action marks a significant escalation in global efforts to regulate AI-driven content, as governments grapple with the rapid spread of powerful image-generation tools and their potential for abuse.