CICC to lift ban on Grok AI

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January 22, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The government is set to end its ban on Grok, less than a week after it prohibited the artificial intelligence chatbot for its sexually explicit content, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center said yesterday.

CICC executive director Renato Paraiso said the decision to lift the ban, which started on Jan. 16, came after xAI, Grok’s developer, reached out to the government and pledged to modify the tool specifically for the local market.

Among these modifications is the omission of image or content manipulation features that allowed deepfake creation and total exclusion of pornography content, particularly child sexual abuse materials.

Even after the ban is lifted, Paraiso said they would closely monitor the app to ensure it complies with the country’s regulations.

The CICC and xAI are expected to meet to discuss the resumption of the tool in the country.

Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) yesterday outlined digital reforms for 2026, including cheaper internet services and a blockchain-based budget tracking system.

During its Kapihan sa DICT briefing, the agency reported progress in expanding connectivity, citing nationwide mobile coverage through combined terrestrial and satellite networks and free WiFi in EDSA Busway stations.

The DICT said further commitments on lowering internet prices and improving speeds will be announced during the Telecommunications Summit 2026 on Jan. 28.

DICT is also intensifying the rollout of its Bayanihan SIM Project to widen access to free WiFi and digital services, particularly in remote schools and communities.

The DICT said the program has so far reached 20,141 beneficiaries from 70 public schools under the Department of Education and 103 beneficiaries from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s 4Ps program.

Each SIM card provides 25 gigabytes of monthly data valid for one year, allowing students and families to access online learning, government services and other digital platforms.

“This project is about bridging the digital divide. Every Filipino deserves to benefit from the digital space,” DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said.

The agency said the project forms part of its “Digital Bayanihan” thrust, aimed at promoting inclusive connectivity nationwide.

DICT also introduced the “Digital Bayanihan Chain,” a platform that will allow the public to track national budget allocations in real time, alongside ongoing efforts to modernize legislative processes through a paperless Congress. – Mark Ernest Villeza