DICT bans Grok app in PH, but AI chatbot remains accessible via X

By TechWatch PH Staff

Hours after Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda announced the ban on Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok in the Philippines, the tool became inaccessible to local users through its standalone app on Friday, January 16.

Despite this, Grok remains accessible via the social media platform X, which is also owned by the tech billionaire.

A check by TechWatch PH showed that while the Grok app is no longer available to users in the country, the AI chatbot can still be accessed and used directly within the X platform.

Grok was integrated into X in 2023, allowing users to interact with the chatbot without downloading a separate application.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) reported on January 16, that the DICT, through the CICC led by Acting Executive Director Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso, has requested the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to block and take down access to the artificial intelligence tool Grok in the Philippines within 24 hours.

The request was made in accordance with Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Authorities said the measure is intended to prevent the abuse of the tool and to protect the public from potential exploitation, including its ability to manipulate content, generate sexually explicit material, and create deepfakes of real individuals without their consent.

“Hindi po natin ire-reactivate sila hangga’t hindi sumusunod ang Grok sa patakaran ng fair use sa internet,” Aguda said.

(We will not reactivate it as long as Grok does not comply with the policy on fair use on the internet.)

DICT to hold talks with Grok affiliate following PH ban

Speaking during a January 16 press conference related to the partnership between Globe Telecom and Starlink—another Musk-owned company—Aguda confirmed that the affiliate has reached out to initiate talks on a possible way forward.

“So, ang next question is, after natin mablock ‘yung Grok AI, ano na? So, the latest update is, nag-reach out na po sa akin yung affiliate ng Grok. So, nag-reach out sila, they’re setting a meeting with me and NTC and CICC to provide a potential solution way forward,” Aguda said.

(So, the next question is, after we block Grok AI, what comes next? The latest update is that Grok’s affiliate has already reached out to me. They contacted us and are setting up a meeting with me, the NTC, and the CICC to provide a potential solution and a way forward.)

Aguda pointed out that the government does not oppose innovation and does not want to resort to blocking platforms, but said action becomes necessary when there is a clear basis for intervention, especially as other agencies are also monitoring potential harmful effects, particularly those affecting children.

Aguda initially raised the issue during a Palace press briefing on January 15, citing concerns over the chatbot’s use in generating sexually explicit and non-consensual deepfake content.

Also on January 15, xAI announced new restrictions aimed at limiting Grok’s ability to create or edit sexualized images of real people, following global criticism over the tool’s misuse.

In a post on X, the company said the changes add “an extra layer of protection” to ensure that users who attempt to abuse Grok to violate the law or platform policies can be identified and held accountable.

It also reiterated its “zero tolerance for any forms of child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content.”

READ:

DICT’s Aguda to block Elon Musk’s Grok over explicit deepfakes despite X’s move to restrict sexualized images