Indonesia Maintains Block On AI Chatbot Grok Pending Compliance

JAKARTA, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Access to the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Grok remains blocked in Indonesia while authorities await confirmation from its owner, X, the social media platform, that it has met government requirements.

Communication and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid said the AI-based application remains subject to administrative sanctions and is still under evaluation by the ministry.

“Its status remains blocked by the Communication and Digital Ministry while awaiting certainty of compliance from Grok to be conveyed to the government,” she said as reported by ANTARA News Agency on Monday night.

She was speaking during a meeting with the House of Representatives’ Commission I, which oversees communications and informatics, defence, foreign affairs and intelligence.

Indonesia has decided to temporarily block access to Grok since Jan 10, amid concerns that AI-generated pornographic and deepfake content could pose risks to public safety.

Grok, a generative AI system integrated with the social media platform X, is owned and developed by xAI, which was founded by Elon Musk in 2023.

At the meeting, Meutya said, among others, the issue of private-scope Electronic System Operators (PSEs) registration was raised, in which, as of December 2025, the meeting was told that a total of 3,805 PSEs had registered.

She said the ministry had also issued 61 warning letters to PSEs to register as part of efforts to enforce compliance, in which out of the total number, most have since registered, including OpenAI.

On handling negative content, Meutya said the ministry had blocked 2,737,962 negative content items throughout 2025, of which 2,087,109 were related to online gambling.

On another development, Meutya said Indonesia’s National Data Centre 1 (PDN 1) is now operating on a limited basis after completing preparation as well as passing the feasibility and security tests last year.

“Preparations for PDN operations for 2026 can now begin because we have received a letter dated Jan 14, 2026, stating that it can be operated on a limited basis,” she said.

On the other hand, Meutya said the ministry is targeting to expand access to fast and affordable internet service to 1.99 million households this year and 10.8 million households by 2030. 

She said low-cost internet services using Broadband Wireless Access technology on the 1.4 Ghz radio frequency band are being prepared and are ready for rollout in stages.

She said currently, 4G network coverage has reached 98.95 per cent of Indonesia’s population, while 5G services have so far reached 6.33 per cent of residential areas nationwide.

-- BERNAMA