MCMC seeks meeting with X as it prepares legal action over Grok

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has reached out to X in hopes of setting up a meeting as early as next week, communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said. This follows concerns surrounding Grok, an AI platform that has recently come under scrutiny for being misused to generate sexualised images of women and children.

“The MCMC has been in contact with X to try to arrange a meeting next week. However, there are some matters that need to be verified before the meeting can go ahead,” Fahmi said during a post-cabinet press conference. “They have made contact and are currently awaiting a response,” he added.

On 13 January, the MCMC also issued a statement saying that, in coordination with the communications ministry, it is pursuing legal action against X and xAI. “This action concerns their failure to ensure user safety in Malaysia in relation to the use of Grok. Solicitors have been appointed, and legal proceedings will be commenced shortly,” the statement said.

Don't miss: Malaysia blocks Grok AI over sexual content and misuse

The commission said it had identified the misuse of Grok to generate and disseminate harmful content, including obscene, sexually explicit, indecent, grossly offensive and non-consensual manipulated images. It added that notices were issued to X Corp and xAI LLC on 3 and 8 January 2026, requiring the removal of the offending content, but no remedial action had been taken. The statement also noted failures by both companies to enforce their own policies and internal controls, which may have facilitated unlawful online activities within Malaysia.

Earlier this week, on 11 January, the MCMC blocked access to Grok for users in Malaysia, with formal notices issued to X and xAI. xAI is Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, which acquired social media platform X in March last year. Access to Grok will remain restricted until effective safeguards are implemented to prevent content involving women and children. The MCMC also urged the public to promptly report harmful online content to the commission and lodge police reports with the Royal Malaysia Police.

Indonesia was the first country to block Grok AI over the circulation of sexualised images. Indonesia’s communications and digital ministry said last week that preliminary findings showed Grok currently lacks clear safeguards to prevent the creation and spread of pornographic material using real photos of Indonesian citizens.

In a related development, X announced yesterday, 14 January, new measures to prevent its AI chatbot Grok from generating sexualised images of real people, following global backlash against the company. Its safety team said in a statement that technological measures have been implemented to stop Grok from allowing the editing of images of real people into revealing clothing. “This restriction applies to all users, including paid subscribers,” the statement said.

Beyond Malaysia and Indonesia, regulators in Europe, India, the UK, Brazil and Australia have either threatened to suspend Grok or initiated investigations into the matter.

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