Global Outrage Mounts Over Musk’s Grok as Countries Move to Block AI Tool
Global backlash intensified on Thursday over sexualised deepfake images generated by Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, despite moves by social media platform X to restrict the tool’s use.
The Philippines became the third country to block Grok, following similar actions by Malaysia and Indonesia, as concerns grew over the chatbot’s ability to generate lewd images of women and children. Authorities in Britain and France also signalled they would sustain pressure on X and its parent company to ensure full compliance with local laws.
On Wednesday, X announced it would “geoblock the ability” of Grok and X users to create images of people in “bikinis, underwear, and similar attire” in jurisdictions where such content is illegal. However, the company did not immediately clarify the specific locations affected by the restriction.
The move followed the launch of investigations by several governments, including the United States, where California’s attorney general opened a probe into xAI over the circulation of sexually explicit material generated by the chatbot.
Earlier attempts by Grok to limit image generation to paying subscribers sparked further criticism, with opponents accusing Musk’s company of seeking to monetise the controversy rather than address the underlying problem. Bowing to mounting global pressure, X later announced that all users — including subscribers — would be barred from using Grok to edit images of people in revealing clothing.
Despite the announcement, Philippine authorities ordered the “immediate blocking” of Grok late on Thursday. The country’s cybercrime chief, Renato Paraiso, said regulators would closely monitor whether X fully implements its promised safeguards. Telecommunications Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda said the spread of toxic online content, particularly through AI, required urgent action.
In Malaysia, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said regulators found X’s restrictions were “not done in totality,” adding that the temporary ban on Grok would only be lifted if the platform fully prevented the generation of such images.
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed X’s stated commitment to comply with British law but warned that enforcement must be immediate. He added that the government was prepared to strengthen existing legislation if necessary.
The controversy centres on Grok’s so-called “Spicy Mode,” which allowed users to create sexualised deepfakes through simple prompts such as requesting images of individuals in bikinis or removing their clothing. The European Commission said it would closely assess X’s actions to ensure they adequately protect citizens, while France’s digital minister, Anne Le Henanff, warned that no platform was above the law.
In the United States, California Governor Gavin Newsom described xAI’s decision to allow such content as “vile,” prompting Attorney General Rob Bonta to vow accountability. Bonta said the state has “zero tolerance” for the creation and spread of non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material.
Adding to the pressure, a coalition of 28 civil society groups submitted open letters to Apple and Google, urging them to remove Grok and X from their app stores amid the surge in sexualised AI-generated images.
AFP
