MeitY Issues Stern Notice to X Corp Over Grok AI Misuse for Generating Obscene Content Targeting Women

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has served a strong advisory to X Corp (formerly Twitter) for failing to meet statutory due diligence requirements under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

The ministry has directed X Corp to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 72 hours, outlining the steps taken to address the issue, the responsibilities fulfilled by its chief compliance officer, and adherence to mandatory reporting obligations under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

Expressing serious concern, MeitY highlighted reports of widespread misuse of X's AI chatbot "Grok" to produce and disseminate obscene, indecent, and sexually explicit content aimed at women. Users have been exploiting Grok's image-generation capabilities to create synthetic photos and videos that derogate and violate the privacy and dignity of women, thereby normalising sexual harassment and bypassing legal protections.

The ministry instructed X Corp to undertake an immediate and thorough review of Grok's technical architecture and governance mechanisms to block the creation of illegal content. It further mandated the platform to implement robust user policies, including account suspension or termination for offenders, and the prompt removal of all violative material while preserving evidence.

Failure to comply could result in the withdrawal of safe harbour immunity under Section 79 of the IT Act, exposing the platform to penal consequences under various laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The notice has been marked to several key ministries, regulatory bodies, and state authorities, indicating a coordinated governmental effort to curb AI-facilitated obscenity.

The action follows a formal complaint earlier in the day by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who urged Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw to intervene for enhanced safeguards in X's AI tools to protect women's safety.

In her letter, Chaturvedi pointed out a disturbing trend on the platform where individuals, often using fake accounts, upload photographs of women—including those posted by the women themselves—and use Grok prompts to digitally alter the images by removing clothing or sexualising them, thereby disrespecting dignity and violating consent.

She criticised Grok for complying with such malicious requests and called for immediate measures to make the platform safer for women.

Later, Chaturvedi thanked the IT Minister for his swift response: "I would take this opportunity to thank Hon IT Minister for promptly taking note of my letter and for issuing a letter to X platform in regard to AI-led Grok generating problematic content of women based on prompts that disrespect women's dignity and violate their consent."

Also Read: MP High Court Fixes January 6 Hearing on Bhagirathpura Contaminated Water Crisis After Govt Files Status Report