Policy · Consumer Internet & Media

MeitY notices X over Grok misuse for explicit content

By Startup Enthusiast · 2 January 2026

What they do

X Corp operates the social media platform X and integrates the Grok AI chatbot

India's IT ministry issued a formal notice to X for failing to prevent Grok from generating sexually explicit content targeting women

The notice signals stricter enforcement of IT rules on AI products and follows an MP's complaint

India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) sent a formal notice to X Corp over misuse of its Grok AI chatbot.
The notice was issued by MeitY's Cyber Laws Division to X's India Chief Compliance Officer.
MeitY alleged that X failed to perform statutory due diligence under the IT Act 2000 and IT Rules 2021.
Users were creating, altering, and sharing obscene images and videos of women using Grok.
The abuse targeted women who posted their own photos and videos, not just impersonation.
Content was generated through prompts, image manipulation, and synthetic outputs.
MeitY called it a gross misuse of AI technologies and said X's systems did not adequately prevent hosting or transmission of indecent content.
The notice stated that the failures undermine the legal framework for intermediaries and normalise sexual harassment.

The notice came within hours of Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi writing to IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw about the issue.
Chaturvedi is a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT and Communications.
She urged the ministry to ensure safeguards in AI products for women's safety.
Global scrutiny of generative AI misuse, including deepfakes and non-consensual image manipulation, has been rising.
MeitY has increased engagement with platforms and AI companies over the past year, issuing advisories and holding consultations on deepfakes and synthetic media.

MeitY sought an Action Taken Report from X, demanding immediate compliance.
MeitY signalled that intermediaries are expected to comply with existing IT rules and amendments.