The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has lifted its ban on the AI chatbot Grok, developed by xAI, after the company committed to address the concerns raised by Philippine authorities.
Why It Matters: The move shows how local regulators are starting to respond more actively to issues around AI safety and harmful content, while also trying to balance innovation and user protection.
Earlier this month, the DICT ordered internet service providers to block access to Grok in the Philippines following reports that the tool could generate inappropriate and non-consensual explicit content, including deepfakes. The department said this raised serious concerns about user safety and possible violations of existing laws.
After discussions between the DICT and xAI, the company agreed to implement additional safeguards and compliance measures. These include tightening content controls and making changes to prevent the generation of harmful material. Following these commitments, the DICT decided to lift the ban and allow access to Grok again in the country.
The DICT said it will continue working with other government agencies to monitor xAI’s compliance and ensure that the platform follows Philippine laws and regulations moving forward.
As AI tools become more powerful and more widely used, how should governments and companies work together to make sure these technologies remain useful without putting users at risk?
