India has directed Elon Musk’s social media platform X to implement urgent changes to its AI chatbot, Grok, following complaints about the generation of obscene and sexualized content. The government’s action comes after users and lawmakers raised alarms over AI-altered images of women, some appearing in bikinis, and other inappropriate outputs.
On January 2, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (IT Ministry) issued a formal order instructing X to prevent Grok from creating content involving nudity, sexualization, or any material deemed unlawful under Indian law. The platform has 72 hours to submit a detailed report explaining how it will curb the hosting or sharing of content labeled obscene, pornographic, indecent, or otherwise prohibited. Failure to comply could jeopardize X’s “safe harbor” protections, which shield it from liability for user-generated content.
The move follows high-profile complaints, including one from Indian parliamentarian Priyanka Chaturvedi, who highlighted instances of Grok altering images of women to appear scantily dressed. Reports also flagged cases where the AI generated sexualized images involving minors—content that X later removed, acknowledging lapses in safeguards. Despite this, some altered images remained accessible on the platform at the time of publication.
This order reinforces India’s broader push for social media compliance with local content laws. Earlier in the week, the IT Ministry had reminded platforms that strict adherence to rules governing obscene and sexually explicit content is necessary for retaining legal immunity. Officials warned that ignoring the directives could result in legal action under India’s IT and criminal statutes, affecting both the platform and its officers.
India, one of the world’s largest digital markets, is becoming a testing ground for how governments hold AI and social media companies accountable. Musk’s X has challenged some content regulation rules in court but continues to comply with most blocking directives. Meanwhile, Grok’s growing use for real-time news commentary and fact-checking has made its outputs more visible—and politically sensitive—highlighting the global implications of India’s enforcement measures.
source: techcrunch