January 8, 2026 | 10:17 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital has followed up on allegations of misusing the artificial intelligence (AI) Grok feature on the X social media platform. Recently, Elon Musk's AI system has been utilized to produce and disseminate lewd content, including the manipulation of sensitive personal photos without the owner's consent.
Director General of Digital Space Supervision at the Ministry of Communication, Alexander Sabar, emphasized that Electronic System Providers (PSE) must have effective protection mechanisms for users. This includes strengthening content moderation systems, preventing the creation of lewd deepfakes, and implementing rapid procedures for handling privacy violations and violations of personal image rights.
"Each PSE must ensure that the technology they provide does not become a means for privacy violations, sexual exploitation, or the degradation of a person's dignity," Alexander stated in a press release on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
He reminded that compliance with Indonesian laws and regulations is mandatory for all PSEs operating in Indonesia. If the Ministry of Communication finds non-compliance or uncooperative behavior, it may impose administrative sanctions, including the suspension of Grok AI services and the X platform.
The Grok system on the social media platform X has sparked a debate about the ethics of using AI. Many X users have requested Grok to alter specific photos through written instructions, including one command to edit a person's photo to appear in a bikini, even though the original uploader was fully clothed.
Initial investigations by the Ministry of Communication revealed that Grok does not have explicit and adequate settings to prevent the production of photo-based pornographic content. "This is a serious risk of violating the privacy and image rights of individuals," Alexander said.
According to him, this phenomenon is not only about digital manipulation, but also about depriving individuals of control over their visual identity, which may lead to psychological, social, and reputational harm.
He further stated that AI service providers and users who are proven to produce and/or disseminate pornographic content or personal image manipulations without authorization may face administrative and/or criminal sanctions in accordance with applicable laws.
Alexander mentioned that individuals who fall victim to photo manipulation, lewd deepfakes, or infringements of their image rights can seek legal recourse through mechanisms outlined in laws and regulations, including reporting to law enforcement agencies and filing complaints with the Ministry of Communication.
The regulations regarding pornographic content are specified in Article 172 and 407 of Law No. 1 of 2023, which is the Criminal Code, and took effect on January 2, 2026. Article 172 defines pornography as media that contains obscenities or sexual exploitation that violates moral norms, while Article 407 stipulates imprisonment for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 10 years, or fines as stipulated.
"We urge all parties to use imitation intelligence technology responsibly. The digital space is not a lawless area; there is privacy and the right to image for every citizen that must be respected and protected," Alexander stated.
Read: Indonesia Urges Grok AI to Address Wave of Nonconsensual Sexual Deepfakes
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