NEW DELHI, January 2, 2026 — The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has sent a formal notice to social media platform X, calling for the immediate takedown of obscene and sexually explicit content generated by artificial intelligence. The misuse of X’s “Grok” AI service to produce and disseminate disparaging information, particularly against women, has alarmed the government.
What did the MeitY notice to X say?
The Chief Compliance Officer of X, India Operations received a letter from the Ministry of Electronics and IT claiming that the Grok AI service is being abused. It said users are creating fake accounts to host, generate, publish, or share obscene images or videos of women in a derogatory or vulgar manner. The notice stressed that platform safeguards have failed to prevent this violation of Indian law.
.@GoI_MeitY issues notice to X over obscene and explicit content generated via Grok AI. Platform asked to fix safeguards, remove illegal content, act against violators and submit an Action Taken Report within 72 hours.@tapasjournalist pic.twitter.com/93KiUI9gS6
— DD India (@DDIndialive) January 2, 2026
Why is the Indian government taking this action?
The government states that X is not adhering to regulatory provisions under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021. MeitY emphasized that compliance with these laws is not optional.The inability to stop the production and dissemination of explicit content made possible by AI raises grave concerns, which is why the platform was ordered to take immediate action and provide a comprehensive report.
What legal consequences does X face?
MeitY warned that failure to comply will be taken seriously and could have severe legal repercussions. The notice listed potential violations under multiple laws, including:
- Sections 66E, 67, 67A, and 67B of the IT Act.
- Relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
- The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
- The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
- The Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act, 1956.
- Section 85 of the IT Act regarding corporate offenses.
What specific action has been demanded from X?
The Ministry has demanded an “Action Taken Report” from X for prompt compliance. The report must explain the steps taken to curb the hosting, creation, and sharing of obscene, nude, indecent, and explicit content caused by the misuse of AI-based tools like Grok. X has been reminded that legal safeguards apply only with full adherence to IT Rules’ due diligence obligations.
