The Philippine government has taken decisive action against a popular artificial intelligence service, ordering its immediate removal from the country's digital space. The Department of Information and Communications Technology mandated the takedown of the AI chatbot Grok due to serious failures in content control.
Immediate Action Against Public Harm
On Friday, January 16, 2026, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center chief Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso directed the National Telecommunications Commission to block access to Grok. They gave the NTC a 24-hour deadline to execute the order, invoking the powers of Republic Act 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Secretary Aguda emphasized the urgency of the move, stating it was a direct mandate from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. "We moved fast as ordered by the President," Aguda said. "The President told us that if there is harm to the public, we need to act fast." The core violation identified was Grok's capability to manipulate content and generate sexually explicit materials and deepfakes of real people without their consent.
Core Violations: Targeting Women and Minors
The primary reason for the ban centers on Grok's ability to produce nonconsensual illicit deepfakes. The DICT specifically highlighted the creation of such content featuring private individuals, celebrities, women, and minors as a grave threat. Undersecretary Paraiso pointed out the alarming accessibility of the platform.
"Because it's available to everyone, even our minors can access it," Paraiso explained. "It allows the creation of content that allows pornography." He further stressed the tool's specific danger in generating child pornography, a factor that has led to its prohibition in other nations.
The DICT made it clear that Grok will remain blocked until it can fully comply with the Philippines' internet fair use policy and implement robust safeguards against such misuse.
Global Precedent and Local Enforcement
The Philippines' decision aligns with a growing international crackdown on the AI service. To date, Grok has already been banned in several jurisdictions, including:
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- South Korea
- The United Kingdom
- France
- The European Union
This local enforcement action underscores the Philippine government's proactive stance in regulating emerging technologies that pose significant risks to personal privacy and public safety. The move sets a precedent for how the country will handle AI platforms that fail to prevent malicious use, prioritizing citizen protection over unfettered technological access.
