DICT mulls lifting Grok AI ban

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is studying the possible lifting of the ban on Grok, the generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot developed by X.AI Corp. (xAI), following the company’s commitment to implement safeguards that would prevent the generation of inappropriate content.

“We will meet with them, and once we are satisfied with the protections and safeguards in place. We will unblock access to Grok,” DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda said in a media briefing on Wednesday.

Last week, the DICT, through its Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), ordered the National Telecommunications Technology (NTC) to block and take down access to Grok in the Philippines.

This came after a growing number of users took advantage of Grok AI to generate inappropriate content, deepfake, and threats involving minors and women.

“Upon initial communications, Grok AI has committed that they will fix their system to prevent these unwanted features,” said Undersecretary and CICC Acting Executive Director Renato A. Paraiso.

Mr. Aguda said the agency, together with the NTC, is set to meet with representatives of xAI to unblock its access.

“They committed to prevent these unwanted features, in particular, Grok’s capability to create pornographic content, especially child pornography,” Mr. Paraiso said.

He said the agency is now working with representatives of xAI to assess what mechanisms should be implemented to prevent the misuse of AI in generating such content.

The agency is also working on a policy measure that would require users in the country to have their accounts verified.

The DICT said the proposal is now under consultation and that it will meet with the National Privacy Commission and incumbent telecommunications players to seek comments on the possible implementation of user account verification, which will allow easier tracing in cases of AI misuse online.

“We are cognizant of the fact that there are a lot of issues involved in terms of the right to freedom of speech, the right to express their thoughts. But we have to balance this with the need for security as well as protecting, of course, women and children and the ones who are most vulnerable,” it said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose