The Union government has sought additional information from social media platform X regarding the steps taken to address obscene and sexually explicit content linked to its artificial intelligence tool, Grok, and the measures planned to prevent similar incidents in the future, according to sources familiar with the matter. The request follows a detailed response submitted by the platform, which officials have assessed as insufficient in addressing key regulatory concerns.
Sources indicated that while X submitted a lengthy and structured reply asserting its compliance with Indian laws and prescribed guidelines, the submission lacked critical specifics. The response outlined the company’s general content moderation policies and reiterated its stance on acting against misleading content and non-consensual sexualised material. However, officials noted that it did not provide precise data on content takedowns or clearly explain the corrective actions taken in response to the misuse of Grok.
According to officials, the government is seeking clarity on the number of posts removed, the accounts affected, and the technical or organisational safeguards being introduced to prevent recurrence. While the reply was described as neither evasive nor superficial, it was deemed inadequate in terms of actionable information. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has therefore asked X to submit further details at the earliest and provide concrete data supporting its claims of compliance.
The platform was earlier granted additional time until 5 pm on Wednesday to submit an Action Taken Report after receiving a warning over the generation of indecent and sexually explicit material through AI-enabled tools. Despite this extension, officials said no public communication has been issued from X’s official handles outlining the contents of its submission to the government.
Government sources also clarified the applicability of safe harbour protections under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act. They stated that the conditional immunity offered under the law applies to intermediaries such as social media platforms, and not to AI tools themselves. Officials added that intermediaries risk losing this protection if they fail to act on unlawful content after receiving formal notice or do not fulfil due diligence obligations once legal proceedings are initiated.
Earlier, X had issued a statement from its safety-focused account asserting that it takes action against illegal content, including child sexual abuse material, through removals, permanent account suspensions, and cooperation with law enforcement agencies. The platform stated that users who prompt or use Grok to generate illegal content would face the same consequences as those who upload such material directly.
The government had first raised concerns on January 2, directing X to immediately remove all obscene, vulgar, and unlawful content, much of which was reportedly generated through Grok. The directive also required the platform to submit a comprehensive Action Taken Report within 72 hours. This report was expected to detail technical and organisational safeguards, the role and oversight of the Chief Compliance Officer, enforcement actions against offending users and content, and mechanisms to ensure adherence to mandatory reporting requirements under Indian law.
Officials said the additional information now sought is aimed at ensuring accountability and preventing the misuse of emerging AI technologies on digital platforms operating in India.
