X Tells IT Ministry It Is Complying With Indian Law Amid Scrutiny Over Grok AI Content

Social media platform X Corp. has informed the Union Government that it is complying with Indian law, following scrutiny over its artificial intelligence chatbot Grok generating non-consensual sexualised content, a senior official said.

The response was submitted to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, which had earlier issued a notice to X after Grok was found to be misused by users to generate and circulate obscene and derogatory images of women. According to officials, X’s written reply states that content has been taken down and blocked, but lacks detailed explanations on the technical safeguards adopted.

Government officials said they are seeking more clarity from the platform, including specifics on content moderation mechanisms and preventive measures. “They say they are complying with Indian law, but we want details on how this compliance is being ensured,” an official said, adding that further communication with the company is underway.

In its January 2 notice, the IT Ministry highlighted concerns over fake accounts allegedly using Grok to create and share explicit content without consent. The ministry asked X to halt such activity immediately, conduct a detailed technical audit of Grok’s systems, and submit the findings within a stipulated deadline that expired on January 7.

It remains unclear whether xAI, which develops Grok and operates as a separate subsidiary under X Corp., will introduce additional safeguards. Officials said X did not make any specific commitments regarding enhanced protections against misuse. X owner Elon Musk has previously defended Grok’s relatively open design, describing minimal restrictions as a distinguishing feature compared to other AI tools. He has argued that users generating illegal content should face consequences similar to those applied for uploading unlawful material directly.

The issue has also renewed debate around safe harbour protections for online platforms. While intermediaries have traditionally been shielded from liability for user-generated content, India’s IT Rules, 2021 place stricter obligations on large platforms, including proactive filtering of obscene content. Failure to comply could expose platforms to direct legal action.

X has said it takes action against illegal content, including child sexual abuse material, through account suspensions and cooperation with law enforcement. However, the government maintains that stronger preventive measures are necessary to address emerging risks posed by generative AI tools.