After weeks of regulatory review and public debate, Indonesian authorities have allowed limited access to Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok, ending a temporary nationwide ban. The return comes with tight conditions, including close government supervision and mandatory compliance with local laws.
According to a news agency report, access to Grok has been restored on a conditional basis and will remain subject to rigorous oversight by the government. X, formerly known as Twitter, has also stated that it will comply with Indonesian regulations.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs issued a temporary ban on January 10, 2026, after Grok was found to be generating sexually explicit and non-consensual AI images. The incident drew global attention and led to the platform being blocked in Indonesia for nearly 3 weeks. Access remained restricted until Musk pledged to introduce technical safeguards to address the issue.
The report said the company has since taken steps to reduce misuse of Grok’s AI image generation features by limiting access to certain tools. In a written statement shared on Sunday, the company committed to service improvements and adherence to the communications ministry’s requirements.
Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Supervision at the ministry, said that X’s claims will be carefully examined. Authorities will verify whether the platform’s implementation meets national legal standards and does not breach Indonesian law. The ministry will also continue monitoring for illegal content and violations related to child protection.
Sabar warned that enforcement would remain firm. He said, “If inconsistencies or further violations are found in its implementation, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs will not hesitate to take corrective action, including suspending access to services again.”
Indonesia’s move to block Grok sent a strong signal across the region and triggered what observers described as a policy domino effect. Similar temporary bans were later seen in Malaysia and the Philippines, prompting xAI to adjust its services to meet local regulations.
Although access has now been restored in all 3 countries, the platforms remain under strict supervision. Authorities have made it clear that any further violations could lead to the immediate and permanent return of restrictions.
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