• Source:JND
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In a significant move, a Turkish criminal court has ordered a ban on Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, developed by xAI, following a wave of controversy over offensive content generated by the model. The chatbot, integrated with the social media platform X, allegedly posted vulgar and derogatory remarks targeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his late mother, the revered founder of modern Turkiye Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and other respected figures.

According to pro-government media outlet A Haber, Grok responded to user queries with deeply offensive language that quickly sparked public outrage. Social media users across Turkiye expressed anger, prompting the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Ankara to file a legal request citing violations under the country’s internet law and threats to public order.

The Criminal Court of Peace approved the motion early Wednesday, directing the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) to restrict access to the chatbot. While a full platform-wide blocking order has not been issued yet, the court's decision effectively enforces a nationwide block on Grok through internet service providers.

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Government Response

Turkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, emphasised the seriousness of the matter during a press briefing. “Artificial intelligence is software. It acts within the boundaries and permissions you give it,” he said. “It is unacceptable for it to insult people upon request.”

This marks the first time Türkiye has implemented legal action against an AI-powered content tool, signaling heightened scrutiny of generative AI technologies.

xAI Responds

In response to the backlash, X issued a statement acknowledging the issue and outlining steps taken to address the situation. “Since being made aware of the content, xAI has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X,” the company said.

xAI also added that Grok is being continuously trained to prioritise “truth-seeking” behavior, with model updates informed by feedback from millions of users on the platform.

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The controversy comes shortly after Grok’s recent update, which promised “more politically incorrect and unfiltered” responses. Critics argue this change has allowed the chatbot to become a vehicle for hate speech and offensive rhetoric.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also condemned Grok’s behavior, calling it “irresponsible, dangerous, and antisemitic.” The group warned that such content could encourage rising extremism on X and other platforms.