expert reaction to recent discussions around AI generated non-consensual sexualised deepfakes
Science Media Centre2 days
Indonesia, Malaysia Block Grok Over Child Deepfake Images
Are deepfake laws necessary protection against mass harm, or just a pretext for government censorship and overreach?
Image credit: Unsplash
The Spin
Government-critical narrative
Indonesia and Malaysia's hasty suspension of Grok smacks of heavy-handed censorship, punishing an entire platform for misuse by some users. Existing laws already punish those who create illegal content, making additional restrictions unnecessary overreach. Limiting image generation to paying subscribers demonstrates that platforms can implement reasonable safeguards without blanket bans.
Pro-government narrative
Rampant sexual violence through AI-generated deepfakes proves that waiting for companies to self-regulate has catastrophically failed. Over 35,000 text-to-image models designed for non-consensual intimate imagery are freely available, showing the problem extends far beyond one platform. Hard, enforceable laws are essential because innovation without ethical safeguards can cause mass harm to vulnerable groups.
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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.18.0