Govt directs X to remove all obscene, unlawful content; lens on AI app Grok
The Indian government has ordered social media platform X to immediately remove all obscene, sexually explicit, and unlawful content, particularly that generated by its AI app Grok. The Ministry of Electronics and IT issued a notice citing failure to comply with IT Act rules and demanding an action report within 72 hours, warning of legal consequences for non-compliance.
Grok
NEW DELHI: Govt on Friday directed Elon Musk-owned social media platform X to remove, without delay, all obscene, indecent, sexually explicit and unlawful content, especially that generated by its AI app Grok, failing which it might have to face legal consequences. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) issued a notice to the chief compliance officer of 'X Corp' (India operations) for failure to observe statutory due diligence obligations under the IT Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and sought within 72 hours a detailed action taken report, to prevent generation and transmission of explicit content through the misuse of Al-based services like 'Grok' and xAlts. "Non-compliance with the above requirements shall be viewed seriously and may result in strict legal consequences against your platform, without any further notice, under the IT Act, the IT Rules, BNSS, BNS and other applicable laws," MeitY said in its communication to X. The ministry highlighted that it has been reported from time to time, including through representations from Members of Parliament, that certain categories of content circulating on X platform may not be in compliance with laws relating to decency and obscenity.
It has been especially observed that "Grok AI" service is being misused by users to create fake accounts that host, generate, publish or share images or videos of women that depict them in a derogatory or vulgar manner. Against this backdrop, the ministry has directed that X must immediately undertake a comprehensive technical, procedural and governance-level review of the Al-based application "Grok". X has also been directed to "enforce its user terms of service, acceptable use policies and AI usage restrictions, including strong deterrent measures such as suspension, termination and other enforcement actions against violating users and accounts". Copies of the notice have been sent to the ministries of home affairs, women and child development, information and broadcasting, and NCW, NCPCR and chief secretaries of all states and UTs.