The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has expressed dissatisfaction with social media platform X's initial response to a notice concerning the alleged misuse of its AI chatbot, Grok. Government sources indicated on Thursday that the ministry is likely to demand a more detailed, step-by-step explanation of the corrective actions the platform intends to take.
X's Generic Response Falls Short
Officials stated that X's reply to the notice issued on January 2 relied heavily on broad assurances regarding policy enforcement and user accountability. However, it critically lacked specifics on the technological and operational safeguards the company plans to implement. The primary concern is preventing the generation of obscene and non-consensual content, which includes sexualised images of women and minors created using the AI tool.
A government source revealed, "The response is generic in nature. The ministry is going to ask for specific steps - what changes will be made, how quickly and how they will be enforced." This development follows X's request for an extension beyond the original 72-hour deadline set by MeitY to submit a comprehensive action-taken report.
The Trigger: Viral 'Bikini' Trend and AI Abuse
The issue gained significant traction after a viral trend, often referred to as the "bikini" trend, emerged on the platform. Users were allegedly exploiting Grok to generate sexualised or digitally manipulated images by inputting publicly available photographs into the chatbot. A Reuters report last week highlighted that the platform was flooded with such content, raising serious alarms about the potential for AI-enabled abuse and harassment.
Amid increasing scrutiny from Indian authorities, X owner Elon Musk issued a warning, stating that users found generating illegal content through Grok would face consequences. The government has underscored that a failure to comply with its directives could lead to the withdrawal of the platform's safe-harbour protections under Indian IT laws.
Next Steps and Government's Stance
Earlier, a government official had told The Times of India that while the platform requested additional time to formulate its response, authorities remained "hopeful of a positive outcome" considering X's global presence and reach. The ministry's impending request for a clearer roadmap signals a firm stance on ensuring that platforms deploying advanced AI tools in India have robust, transparent, and actionable mechanisms to prevent misuse.
The core of the government's demand revolves around concrete details. MeitY is expected to seek clarity on the exact modifications to Grok's functionality or access, the timeline for implementing these changes, and the enforcement framework that will ensure ongoing compliance. This move highlights the growing regulatory focus on holding AI platforms accountable for content generated through their systems.
