Grok controversy a case study in product liability

THE decision by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to block access to the AI chatbot Grok is a decisive, albeit reactive, measure. This action, taken to prevent content that creates liability under Malaysian laws, including Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, serves as a necessary firebreak against the unchecked proliferation of non-consensual, sexually explicit deepfakes.

But it also underscores the timeliness of the Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA), which came into force on Jan 1. ONSA fundamentally reshapes the liability landscape by designating social media platforms as Licensed Service Providers.