The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has ordered the blocking of the AI chatbot Grok in the Philippines. The decision comes after reports that the chatbot can generate sexually explicit deepfakes, including content involving women and minors.
DICT said the move was necessary to protect the public from exploitation. The takedown was carried out under Republic Act 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act. The agency worked with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to restrict access to Grok.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda stressed the urgency of the action. Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso added that Grok’s ability to create pornographic material, including child pornography, made the ban unavoidable.
The chatbot will remain blocked until it complies with internet fair use policies. Grok has already been banned in Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, and the European Union.
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This case highlights growing concerns about generative AI tools and their misuse. While AI chatbots are designed to assist users, regulators warn that they can also be exploited to produce harmful or illegal content. DICT said it will continue to monitor platforms that pose risks to public safety.
