KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA January 22, 2026 – Malaysia has taken phased regulatory actions against the Grok AI application, developed by xAI and integrated with platform X, following concerns over harmful content generation. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil detailed these measures in Parliament today, responding to a question from the MP for Tumpat.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) issued official notices to X Corp and xAI LLC on January 3 and January 8, 2026, highlighting reported harmful content produced by Grok and demanding immediate preventive steps. When effective measures were not implemented, MCMC directed internet service providers to impose a temporary access restriction on Grok’s website and mobile app, effective from January 11, 2026, as an urgent risk mitigation effort.
MCMC has since recorded 17 complaints or reports related to Grok, including:
- 6 official complaints directly to MCMC;
- 2 police reports shared by complainants;
- 8 complaints via social media tags for MCMC reference;
- 1 First Information Report (FIR) initiated by MCMC itself.
On January 16, 2026, MCMC issued another notice requiring comprehensive content moderation and safety mechanisms for Grok’s multimedia functions.
A key development occurred on January 21, 2026, when Minister Fahmi chaired a meeting with X platform representatives (responsible for Grok), attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Communications and MCMC. The session sought explanations and commitments on preventive measures, user safety enhancements, and compliance with Malaysian laws to curb harmful online content.
Following the meeting, X representatives confirmed that necessary preventive steps have been implemented. Grok can no longer be misused to generate or edit images and videos involving pornography, incest, or other sexual and obscene elements. X also reiterated its commitment to collaborate in preventing the spread of harmful content across its platform and Grok.
Minister Fahmi has requested formal written confirmation from X to MCMC for evaluation of these measures’ effectiveness, after which appropriate regulatory follow-up will be taken.
The minister emphasized that Malaysia’s actions are timely and essential to protect the public—particularly children, families, and vulnerable groups—from harmful online content. These steps align with Malaysian laws, including the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) and the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866), as well as the principles of Rukun Negara promoting decency and societal morality. They are also consistent with international regulatory practices.
Several other countries have adopted similar measures against Grok and X for safety and public interest reasons, including temporary access restrictions in Indonesia and the Philippines.
For long-term safeguards, the government is focusing on strengthening AI governance and online service provider accountability to ensure generated content complies with Malaysian laws. This includes stricter content regulation, ongoing monitoring, and public awareness initiatives to shield vulnerable groups from exposure to harmful online material.
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