Komdigi Officially Breaks Access to Grok AI, Experts Say Blocking is the Right Step
JAKARTA - The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Communication and Digital officially cut off temporary access to Grok, an artificial intelligence (AI) based chatbot application owned by Elon Musk.
Through this step, Indonesia reaffirms its position as a proactive country in maintaining a safe and ethical digital space.
This policy of disconnecting access is carried out based on the authority regulated in the Minister of Communication and Information Regulation Number 5 of 2020 concerning Private Scope Electronic System Operators.
The Minister of Communication and Information, Meutya Hafid, also emphasized that this disconnection was an effort by the government to protect the community, especially women and children, from the risk of sexual exploitation in the digital space.
The policy was taken following the discovery of the misuse of the technology to produce and distribute fake pornographic content based on deepfakes.
"In order to protect women, children, and the entire community from the risk of false pornographic content produced using artificial intelligence technology, the government has temporarily cut off access to the Grok application," Meutya said in an official statement, quoted on Monday, January 12.
In addition to temporarily closing access to Grok, the Ministry of Communication and Information also asked X as the platform manager to immediately provide clarification and be responsible for the impact caused by the use of this technology.
Cyber security expert from Vaksincom, Alfons Tanujaya, also assessed that the government's move was right and worthy of appreciation, especially since Indonesia could be the first pioneer in ensuring a safe platform in the digital space.
According to him, if a platform is proven to pose a serious threat to women and children through the exploitation of digital pornography, then blocking is a reasonable choice.
"If it is proven to pose a threat, especially to children and women, and then it is not blocked, who will bear the mental and moral damage caused?" said Alfons.