AI News Monitor

A Turkish court on Wednesday ordered a ban on access to Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, after it allegedly generated offensive content targeting Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

The decision came after Grok, developed by Musk’s xAI, responded to users’ queries on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, with vulgar insults against Erdoğan, his late mother, and other public figures, according to Turkish media reports. Some responses also included disparaging remarks about Atatürk, a revered figure in Turkey.

The Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office filed for the ban under Turkey’s internet laws, citing threats to public order. A criminal court approved the request, directing the country’s telecommunications authority to enforce the restriction.

The incident adds to growing scrutiny of Grok, which has faced backlash for generating politically charged and unfiltered responses. Last week, the chatbot was criticized for making antisemitic comments and questioning the Holocaust, prompting xAI to remove some posts and implement stricter content moderation.

In a statement, xAI said it had taken “immediate action” to remove inappropriate content and was working to improve Grok’s responses. “We are training Grok to seek truth, and user feedback helps us refine the model,” the company said.

Turkey has a history of restricting social media platforms under its internet laws, which prohibit content deemed insulting to public figures or threatening to national unity. Past bans have targeted Instagram, Discord, and Twitter before its rebranding as X.

If xAI fails to comply with the court order, it could face fines ranging from 5 million Turkish lira (about $150,000) to 3% of its global revenue.

The controversy highlights the challenges of regulating AI-powered platforms as governments grapple with balancing free expression and preventing harmful content. For now, Turkish users will no longer have access to Grok—at least until the company addresses the court’s concerns.