MANILA – Grok exposed the failure of Philippine laws in curbing artificial intelligence (AI)-driven sexual harassment, according to a women’s party-list group.

An AI chatbot accessed through social media platform X, Grok has faced criticism after users generated deepfakes—creating non-consensual and sexually explicit images even of children.

Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) Rep. Sarah Elago acknowledged that violence against women has evolved. “Abuse now happens not only in homes and public places, but also in digital spaces powered by algorithms and AI tools that profit from women’s objectification.”

Indonesia and Malaysia were the first countries which blocked access to Grok which was then followed by the Philippines.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) ordered on January 16 the banning of the Grok following the reports of child pornography.

Even with the takedown request, GWP stressed that existing laws do not acknowledge and address AI-enabled sexual abuse and exploitation and non-consensual deepfake manipulation as legitimate forms of gender-based violence.

In this context, GWP filed House Bill No. 4779 which expands and strengthens the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) law by including emerging forms of abuse like the ones facilitated by technology and online platforms.
On January 19, 2026 DICT announced that xAI, the company that develops Grok, addressed that immediate misuse issue. However, Elago said that assurances from big tech companies are not enough. She stressed the need to pass bills that combat technology-facilitated VAW and to strengthen the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (Anti-OSAEC/Anti-CSAEM) law. (AMU, DAA)

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