New Delhi: Elon Musk-owned social media platform X has acknowledged lapses in moderating obscene content generated through its artificial intelligence tool, Grok, and has assured the Indian government of full compliance with domestic laws, according to official sources.
The platform informed authorities that it has blocked around 3,500 pieces of content and deleted more than 600 accounts linked to the controversy. X also undertook that no further obscene or sexually explicit imagery would be permitted on the platform going forward.
The assurance comes amid mounting regulatory pressure from New Delhi. The government had been weighing legal action against X, including the possible withdrawal of safe harbour protections under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, which shields intermediaries from liability subject to strict due diligence obligations. Criminal action was also under consideration.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had issued a strong directive to X, ordering the immediate removal of all vulgar, obscene and unlawful content—particularly material generated via Grok—or face action under Indian law. The ministry made it clear that compliance with the IT Act and associated rules is mandatory, and that statutory exemptions are conditional, not automatic.
On January 7, the government sought detailed information from X regarding the specific actions taken against Grok-linked obscene content and the safeguards being put in place to prevent recurrence. According to PTI, while X submitted a detailed response, officials found it inadequate in addressing all concerns.
In its reply, X reportedly emphasised that it respects Indian laws and regulatory guidelines, while noting that India represents a significant market for the platform. The company also outlined its content moderation framework, including strict takedown policies for misleading content and non-consensual sexualised imagery.
Government officials reiterated that hosting or transmitting content that is obscene, pornographic, sexually explicit, paedophilic, or otherwise prohibited under law would attract serious consequences. “The statutory exemptions under the IT Act are subject to strict observance of due diligence obligations,” the ministry had cautioned in its communication.
The controversy is not limited to India. X has also faced scrutiny from regulators in the UK and Malaysia over similar concerns related to content moderation and AI-generated material.
As governments globally tighten oversight of AI-driven platforms, the episode underscores the growing regulatory risks for social media companies deploying generative tools without robust safeguards.
