Komdigi Temporarily Blocks Access to Grok

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) has temporarily cut off access to the Grok application as a step to protect women, children, and the entire community from the risk of spreading false pornographic content produced using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

The Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, stated that the policy was taken as a form of state responsibility in maintaining a safe, ethical, and respectful digital space for human rights.

"The government considers the practice of non-consensual sexual deepfake as a serious violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space," said Meutya as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, January 10.

According to him, the use of AI technology to create and disseminate false pornographic content without the consent of the object is a form of digital-based violence whose impact can harm the victim psychologically, socially, and legally.

Meutya explained that the termination of access to Grok was temporary and was carried out as a preventive and corrective step.

The government, he said, needs to ensure that every digital platform operating in Indonesia has adequate security mechanisms so that it is not used to produce or disseminate prohibited content.

In addition to cutting off access, the Ministry of Communication and Digital has also asked the X Platform as the relevant party to immediately appear to provide clarification.

The clarification is needed to explain the negative impact of using Grok as well as mitigation measures that will be taken to prevent the recurrence of misuse of the technology.

"The Ministry of Communication and Digital has also asked the X Platform to immediately attend to provide clarification regarding the negative impact of using Grok," said Meutya.

The temporary disconnection action, continued Meutya, has a clear legal basis.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital carries out its authority as regulated in the Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Information Technology Number 5 of 2020 concerning Private Scope Electronic System Operators.

In the regulation, especially Article 9, every Electronic System Operator (PSE) is required to ensure that the electronic system that it manages does not contain, facilitate, or disseminate electronic information and/or electronic documents that are prohibited by laws and regulations.

As is known, Grok has invited criticism from various circles around the world because it allows users to create images that smell of pornography.

In a statement, Grok said only paid customers on X could create and edit images on the platform.

However, not a few have accused the application of allowing anyone to create images without having to pay a subscription fee.

A number of countries such as the United Kingdom, the European Union, and India have publicly criticized X and Grok for allowing the use of these capabilities.

The European Union even asked xAI to keep all documentation related to the chatbot.

India is also reported to have ordered X to make changes immediately to stop the misuse of the image-making feature or risk losing safe harbor protection in the country.

The UK communications watchdog also said it had also contacted xAI over the issue.