KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 — Malaysia will lift its block on access to the artificial intelligence (AI) tool Grok on X only after the platform operator resolves issues related to the generation of harmful content.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said X must comprehensively demonstrate that Grok can no longer produce video or image content that could be misused before the restriction is removed.
“If they succeed in disabling the production of materials considered online harm or harmful, the government will end the temporary ban on Grok,” he told reporters after launching the Centre for Responsible Technology (CERT) here today.
Fahmi said the government wants social media platforms to be safer, particularly for children and families, and free from scams and harmful content.
On January 11, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) imposed a temporary block on Grok for users in Malaysia.
According to the MCMC, the block on the AI tool was imposed after it was repeatedly misused to generate pornographic and explicit content, including indecent material and non-consensual manipulated images involving women and children, despite regulatory notices issued to X Corp and xAI LLC.
Fahmi said his ministry has taken note that X disabled several prompts that allow the creation of inappropriate images via Grok, but the MCMC found the measures insufficient.
He said the government is pursuing a cooperative approach through established legal and regulatory channels, in line with the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA), which will be advised by the Online Safety Committee.
He added that the committee includes representatives from the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and relevant agencies to advise the government on digital safety issues.
Fahmi stressed that the government does not intend to impose a blanket ban on social media platforms, but aims to prevent their misuse for criminal purposes.
“I believe engagement and discussions with the platforms are a more positive approach — not to block them, but to ensure they are not exploited, especially by criminals,” he said.
He explained that concerns over Grok are not limited to Malaysia, noting similar positions taken by Indonesia and several European nations.
“When many countries share the same concerns, it is clearly something X needs to address,” Fahmi said, underscoring the need to balance freedom of expression with preventing abuse of digital platforms.
