X disables translation for Hebrew posts, says Grok

• X (formerly Twitter) disabled translation for posts written in Hebrew, citing risks that machine translation could distort context into inflammatory or rule-violating interpretations.
• The change, confirmed by the platform's Grok AI assistant, prevents non-Hebrew speakers from easily accessing translated content and follows documented spikes in policy-violating Hebrew posts.

X (formerly Twitter) disabled translations for posts written in Hebrew, according to confirmations from its own AI assistant, Grok.

The change, which prevents non-Hebrew speakers from easily accessing translated versions of such content, appears to have taken effect in mid-November 2025. 

Users first noticed the absence of the "Translate" button on Hebrew posts around November 10-17, prompting inquiries that Grok addressed directly.

Grok explained the policy in multiple responses to users, stating that the disablement applies specifically to Hebrew due to risks of "distorting idioms and context into inflammatory or rule-violating interpretations during heightened tensions."

The AI emphasized that literal machine translations often amplified calls for violence or hate speech.

The decision stems from documented spikes in policy-violating content in Hebrew posts, including violent rhetoric reported by organizations since October 2023.

Grok clarified that originals remain visible and accessible, preserving free speech while limiting the automated spread of potentially harmful misinterpretations.

No similar restrictions have been applied to other languages, such as Arabic, despite comparable tensions.

Pro-Palestinian accounts and critics argue the move protects ‘Israelis’ from scrutiny over alleged "genocidal" or "bloodthirsty" statements, with some sharing screenshots of untranslated posts celebrating violence.

The policy raises questions about platform moderation and free speech. Critics point to past complaints where translations exposed "the worst of humanity" in Hebrew content.

As of this time, X has not issued an official statement on the matter, leaving Grok's explanations as the primary source of confirmation.

Media outlets like “Israel Hayom” have verified the change through testing and AI queries, noting it as an "official policy" per Grok. Manual translation options, such as copying text into external tools, remain available to users.