New Delhi: The Indian government has issued a strong notice to social media platform X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, directing it to immediately remove AI-generated obscene and illegal content from its platform. The warning comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of X’s AI application, Grok, to create and circulate explicit material.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has sent the notice to X’s Chief Compliance Officer in India, stating that the platform is failing to meet its legal obligations under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
72-Hour Deadline for Action Taken Report
The government has ordered X to remove or disable access to all existing content that violates Indian laws within the timelines prescribed under the IT Rules, 2021. The ministry has also directed the platform to submit a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) within 72 hours, explaining the steps taken to curb such content.
The notice further instructs X to take strict action against users and accounts involved in creating, hosting, publishing, transmitting, or sharing obscene, nude, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable AI-generated content, particularly that created using the Grok app.
Focus on AI-Generated Obscene Content
MeitY has specifically highlighted the misuse of AI tools like Grok for generating pornographic and indecent content, calling it a serious violation of laws related to decency and obscenity. The ministry emphasized that platforms must put in place strong safeguards to prevent the abuse of artificial intelligence technologies.
Warning of Strict Legal Consequences
The government has made it clear that failure to comply with the notice will be treated as a serious offence. In case of non-compliance, strict legal action may be initiated without further notice against the platform, its responsible officials, and violators under applicable laws, including the IT Act, IT Rules, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and other relevant statutes.
According to the ministry, complaints received from public discussions and Members of Parliament revealed that certain content circulating on X does not conform to India’s laws governing obscenity and public morality.
Political and Public Pressure
Earlier, Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi had written to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging immediate intervention in cases where AI tools were allegedly being used to create obscene images of women. The issue triggered wider concern over the unchecked use of AI on social media platforms.
On December 29, the ministry had also issued a general advisory to all social media companies, asking them to review their compliance frameworks and take swift action against illegal and obscene content. The current notice to X is part of that broader enforcement drive.
Government’s Stand
The government has reiterated that social media platforms must ensure their services are not misused and that they strictly adhere to Indian laws. With the rapid rise of AI-generated content, authorities have signaled zero tolerance toward material that could harm individuals or society at large.