Indonesia has conditionally lifted its ban on xAI’s chatbot Grok, allowing the service to resume operations under tighter regulatory oversight. The move brings Indonesia in line with recent decisions by Malaysia and the Philippines, which have also eased restrictions on the AI tool.
Authorities said the decision follows commitments by xAI to address local compliance requirements, including content moderation standards, data governance safeguards, and cooperation with national regulators. Under the conditional approval, Grok’s continued operation will be subject to monitoring, with the government reserving the right to reimpose restrictions if violations are detected.
Indonesia’s earlier suspension of Grok was driven by concerns over harmful content, misinformation risks, and the broader impact of generative AI systems on public discourse. Regulators have since intensified engagement with AI providers as part of a wider regional push to balance innovation with digital safety.
The reinstatement signals Southeast Asia’s growing preference for regulated access rather than outright bans, as governments seek to harness the economic and technological benefits of artificial intelligence while tightening accountability frameworks.
For xAI, the decision restores access to one of the region’s largest digital markets, though the conditional nature of the approval underscores the heightened scrutiny global AI platforms now face across emerging economies.
EPA rules xAI’s unpermitted natural gas turbines were illegally operated
