New Delhi: The Centre on Friday issued a formal notice to Elon Musk-owned social media platform X, directing it to immediately take down vulgar, obscene and unlawful content available on the platform, with a specific focus on material generated using its artificial intelligence tool, Grok. The directive was issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which cited non-compliance with the Information Technology Rules, 2021.
In its notice, MeitY stated that X had failed to exercise the required due diligence mandated under the IT Rules. The ministry warned that strict legal action would be initiated if the platform did not comply with the directions within the stipulated timeframe. The government instructed X to disable access to such content without any delay and ensure that similar violations do not recur.
According to the notice, the platform has been asked to take immediate action against users and accounts responsible for uploading or circulating vulgar, obscene and unlawful material. This includes content that allegedly violates legal provisions and community standards, particularly AI-generated content produced through Grok.
The Centre has also directed X to submit an action taken report within 72 hours of receiving the notice. The report is expected to detail the steps taken by the platform to remove the identified content, the measures adopted against offending accounts, and the safeguards put in place to prevent further violations.
The government’s move follows complaints raised by public representatives regarding the circulation of obscene content on the platform. These complaints reportedly highlighted instances involving objectionable depictions of women and children, prompting the ministry to intervene. MeitY noted that such content is unlawful and unacceptable, and its continued availability points to lapses in content moderation and enforcement of existing rules.
In the notice, the ministry emphasized that intermediaries are legally obligated to act responsibly and ensure compliance with the IT Rules, 2021. These rules require platforms to promptly remove illegal content upon receiving actual knowledge or a government order, and to maintain robust systems for monitoring and addressing violations.
MeitY also reiterated that failure to adhere to due diligence requirements could result in the loss of safe harbour protection under Indian law, exposing the platform to further legal consequences. The notice made it clear that compliance was mandatory and that the directions were being issued in the interest of maintaining lawful and safe online spaces.
The reference to AI-generated content has drawn attention to the role of emerging technologies in content creation and dissemination. The ministry specifically flagged material generated through Grok, stating that the use of artificial intelligence does not absolve platforms of responsibility for the nature of content hosted or shared on their services.
By issuing the notice, the Centre has signalled a stricter approach towards enforcement of digital regulations, particularly in cases involving obscene and unlawful content. The directive underscores the government’s position that social media platforms must act swiftly and decisively when such content is identified, regardless of whether it is generated by users or AI tools.
The matter is now being closely watched, with X required to comply with the directions and submit its action taken report within the specified 72-hour period. Any failure to do so, the ministry said, would invite further action under applicable laws.
