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Users in the Philippines have lost access to Grok, the artificial intelligence platform integrated into Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), after the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) initiated a crackdown on Grok’s stand-alone platform and website for allegedly facilitating the creation of non-consensual deepfake content.
Key Details
As of Friday afternoon, January 16, users attempting to access the service via local internet service providers (ISPs) reported being unable to connect.
While the Grok platform and website are blocked, accessing Grok on X is still available.
The Block: ‘Forbidden Access’
Filipino users trying to access grok.com on a Globe ISP are now greeted with a security certificate error stating “Your connection isn’t private,” followed by technical details indicating the certificate is from forbiddenaccess.globe.com.ph. This specific error message is consistent with previous ISP-level blocks enforced by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) against unregistered cryptocurrency exchanges.
Mobile users on the X app are similarly encountering a “Connection Issue” notice when attempting to use the AI chatbot features.
DICT: “Grok Under Fire”
In a press statement released Friday, the DICT confirmed it is “closely monitoring global actions against Grok AI” following serious concerns over its misuse. The agency cited the platform’s role in generating “non-consensual, sexually explicit, and manipulated images, including deepfakes involving women and minors”:
“In line with the government’s duty to safeguard Filipinos in digital spaces, DICT is coordinating with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and relevant authorities to assess possible regulatory measures.”
The department invoked Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012), specifically its provisions on content-related offenses and the state’s mandate to suppress the use of ICT for illegal acts.
X Proposes ‘Corrective Measures’
The DICT disclosed that X has formally reached out to DICT Secretary Henry Aguda to propose “corrective measures and stronger safeguards,” particularly for the protection of women and children:
“The government expects concrete, enforceable actions, not just assurances, to ensure AI technologies are never used to enable abuse, exploitation, or harm.”
Musk Tones Down Grok Amid Global Scrutiny
The action in the Philippines aligns with a broader international backlash against the platform. In recent weeks, regulators in the United Kingdom, Europe, and other jurisdictions have launched investigations into Grok’s image-generation capabilities.
Elon Musk, the owner of X, has publicly acknowledged the controversy. Following reports that the AI was being used to generate “nudified” images of real people, X announced it had implemented technical restrictions to prevent the tool from creating images of real individuals in revealing clothing, such as bikinis.
Musk stated on X that the platform’s operating principle is to “obey the laws of any given country” and that it will refuse to generate illegal content when prompted. The company has also reportedly restricted certain image generation features to paid subscribers to improve accountability.
This article is published on BitPinas: Philippines Blocks Access to Elon Musk’s Grok AI; DICT Cites ‘Deepfake Abuse’ of Women and Minors
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