Petaling Jaya (Jan 11) - The Grok artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot has been temporarily restricted in Malaysia with effect from Jan 11 following concerns over the repeated generation of harmful content.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said the move was taken after the AI tool was found to have been misused to produce obscene, sexually explicit, indecent and grossly offensive material, including non-consensual manipulated images involving women and minors. This action followed earlier regulatory engagement and formal notices issued to X Corp and xAI LLC.
According to MCMC, notices were sent on Jan 3 and Jan 8 requiring the companies to put in place effective technical and moderation safeguards to prevent AI-generated content that could breach Malaysian laws, including Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act. However, the responses submitted on Jan 7 and Jan 9 were deemed inadequate, as they relied mainly on user-driven reporting mechanisms and did not sufficiently address risks inherent in the design and operation of the AI system.
The commission assessed these measures as insufficient to prevent harm or ensure compliance with local regulations. As a result, access to Grok has been restricted as a preventive and proportionate step while ongoing legal and regulatory processes continue. The restriction will remain in place until robust safeguards are implemented, particularly those aimed at preventing content that exploits or harms women and children.
MCMC indicated that it remains open to further engagement with X Corp and xAI LLC, provided there is clear and demonstrable compliance with Malaysian law. The public has also been urged to report harmful online content directly to the commission and, where relevant, to lodge police reports.
For Sabahans, the restriction applies equally, affecting users across the state who access AI tools for communication, information or experimentation. At the same time, the move underscores stronger online safety protections for Sabah’s communities, especially women, children and families, by reinforcing safeguards against harmful digital content across Malaysia.