The Indian government has escalated its scrutiny of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, demanding a more detailed account of the specific actions taken to address the circulation of obscene content generated through its artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok. This move follows an initial submission by the company that authorities found lacking in crucial details.
Initial Response Deemed Inadequate
According to a PTI report, the IT Ministry had directed X to crack down on the misuse of Grok after reports emerged of users leveraging the AI tool to create and share "sexualised and obscene" images of women. While X provided a detailed reply, affirming its compliance with Indian laws and highlighting India's importance as a market, the government found the response insufficient.
The platform's report outlined its general content moderation policies, particularly concerning misleading information and non-consensual sexual imagery. However, authorities noted it failed to include specific steps taken in the Grok AI obscene content issue and concrete measures to prevent future misuse.
Fresh Deadline and Stance from X
The government granted X an extension until 5 PM on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, to submit a fresh action-taken report. This stern warning was issued following the discovery of indecent and sexually-explicit content created through the misuse of AI-based services like Grok.
In a related development, X's 'Safety' handle stated on Sunday that the platform takes strict action against illegal content, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), by removing it and permanently suspending accounts. "Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content," the platform said, echoing the stance of owner Elon Musk. X added it is collaborating with local governments and law enforcement to curb such incidents.
Legal Implications and Ongoing Scrutiny
The controversy has placed X under significant legal pressure in India. The IT Ministry had previously pulled up the platform on 2 January 2026, directing it to immediately remove all vulgar, obscene, and unlawful content, especially that generated by Grok AI, or face action under Indian law.
The core of the government's demand now revolves around transparency and accountability. Officials are seeking a clear, point-by-point breakdown of:
- The exact actions taken against accounts that misused Grok for obscene content.
- The technical and policy safeguards implemented to prevent a recurrence.
- How the platform's existing moderation framework was specifically applied to this AI-related issue.
This case highlights the growing regulatory challenges posed by generative AI tools and sets a precedent for how social media platforms operating in India must govern AI-powered features on their networks. The outcome of X's revised submission will be closely watched by the industry and regulators alike.
