Two countries have banned Grok AI so far – could the UK do the same?

A growing number of countries are blocking access to Grok, the AI chatbot created by Elon Musk and built into X.

But could the UK do the same?

Indonesia became the first to do so on Saturday under a law that platforms must ensure they do not contain or share illegal material.

X users trying to access Grok are now greeted by an error page.

Malaysia followed on Sunday, announcing that it was temporarily blocking the chatbot from Musk’s start-up, xAI.

Communication officials issued two warnings to X Corp and xAI on January 3 and January 8, with X saying users can report offending posts.

They found this response ‘inadequate’, saying the app will be restricted until tougher measures are rolled out.

Ofcom said yesterday it is investigating X under the Online Safety Act (OSA).

The media regulator could fine X or even ban the social media network altogether, a decision the British government says it would support.

MeIisa Tourt, the communication and digital manager at The Centre for Policy Studies think-tank, told Metro that restrictions are a possibility.

If Ofcom finds that X is breaking the law, the company will have 20 days to respond or request a hearing.

Ofcom could also fine X up to £18million or 10% of global revenue, which dropped by 60% to £28.9million last year.

If a ban is the only option, Ofcom would need to take the restrictions to court, with the decision being up to a judge.

The regulator does have the legal power to do this as, under the OSA, it can impose ‘business disruption measures’.

Tourt said: ‘However, Ofcom are nowhere near that yet… If X fails to comply with any requirements in the confirmation decision, Ofcom can impose daily penalties or pursue business disruption measures through the courts.

‘There’s good reason that Liz Kendall told Ofcom to not take “months and months”, Ofcom are super slow and have been very delayed on almost everything to do with the OSA.’

Blanket banning an app is not simply pressing a button – internet service providers need to restrict access, app stores need to take apps down and payment processors and advertisers need to pull out.

Sexually explicit images generated by Grok have flooded X in recent weeks as people asked the bot to digitally undress real women.

By simply replying to posts and tagging the X account @grok, users could ask Grok to place the subject in explicit situations or suggestive poses.

Metro has heard from women who say trolls made deepfakes of them pregnant or in ‘see-through bikinis’.

Despite the immense pressure from parliament, Tourt said she isn’t entirely convinced Grok or X will be banned for good.

X Corp, an xAI subsidiary, has so far been compliant with Ofcom, meeting the regulator’s tight Friday deadline.

‘I wouldn’t say their refusing to pay is them being uniquely difficult, as 10% of revenue – not even profits – has always been seen as an inconceivably high amount,’ Tourt added.

She warned, however, that much like the restrictions placed on pornographic websites, banning an app is easier said than done.

Users could use VPNs, which enable people to browse the web as if they were in a different country, to bypass the ban.

Tourt added: ‘If a ban does go ahead, it may be what prompts the gov to start seriously looking at VPN service restrictions.’

Whether the government would do this is unclear, Tourt said, as doing so could easily pave the way for other social media giants being investigated.

‘Which I imagine no one wants,’ she added.

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