India flags Grok misuse on X, 72-hour ultimatum issued
India flags Grok misuse on X, 72-hour ultimatum issued
MeitY orders X to purge Grok of obscene prompts after reports of sexualised content; warns of legal action if content isn't removed within 72 hours.
India’s IT ministry has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to X Corp over its Grok AI chatbot, demanding a rapid fix after investigations found the tool generating obscene and sexually explicit content. MeitY is seeking a comprehensive technical review of Grok and the immediate removal of all violating material, warning that failure to comply could jeopardise legal protections under the IT Act and open the door to criminal penalties. The directive emphasizes the need to curb content that breaches multiple laws, including provisions related to obscene material and the protection of minors.
The ministry highlighted that Grok has been used to create and share explicit images of women, with some prompts reportedly facilitating the posting of such material via accounts associated with the X platform. It underscored that this use represents an unacceptable and gross misuse of an AI function, potentially infringing on women’s privacy and dignity, and could constitute criminal conduct under applicable laws.
Lawmakers have pressed for swift action. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has been vocal about the misuse of AI tools on social media, urging a Centre-led response and stressing that the issue must be addressed to protect women from digital harassment. The government’s stance reflects a broader push in India to regulate AI-enabled tools on social platforms while safeguarding user safety and privacy.
Analysts say the move signals a willingness to enforce accountability on tech platforms that deploy AI features within India, signaling that continued violations could affect legal immunity and invite more stringent oversight. X has been asked to submit a detailed compliance report within the 72-hour window and to outline steps taken to prevent recurrence, including a thorough content review of Grok and the removal of any material that violates Indian law.
