Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and social media platform X are set to meet next Wednesday, January 21, to address pressing online safety issues, according to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. The focus of the meeting will be the Grok artificial intelligence application and concerns surrounding its potential misuse, particularly in generating explicit content that contravenes national laws.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the MCMC had previously implemented a temporary ban on access to Grok in Malaysia, effective January 11, due to repeated misuse involving pornographic and explicit content and the presence of obscene material and manipulated images involving women and children. This action followed regulatory notices issued to X Corp and xAI LLC. Moreover, the MCMC has considered legal action against X Corp and xAI LLC for failing to ensure user safety in Malaysia concerning Grok.

Additionally, Fahmi disclosed that discussions are underway with all social media platforms regarding proposals to restrict social media use to individuals aged 16 and above. The discussions primarily focus on technical issues and the mechanism for implementing the ban, with implementation expected in the coming months. Fahmi noted that some platforms not initially targeted have shown a proactive willingness to participate voluntarily in these efforts to maintain a safer online environment, particularly for children.