New Delhi, Jan 11: Elon Musk’s X has admitted fault and pledged strict adherence to Indian laws following a sharp IT Ministry rebuke over obscene content generated by its Grok AI, government sources confirmed Sunday. In a swift crackdown, around 3,500 offending posts have been blocked, with over 600 accounts permanently deleted.
Sources revealed X’s assurance to prevent future obscene imagery, marking a retreat after initial responses fell short. The Ministry had demanded specifics on actions against Grok-linked explicit material and recurrence safeguards, deeming X’s first reply—long on general policies for misleading or non-consensual images but silent on key details—inadequate.
The saga ignited on January 2 when the IT Ministry fired off a stern notice to X over indecent, sexually explicit content spewed via AI tools like Grok. X’s ‘Safety’ account countered last Sunday, stressing zero tolerance: illegal content, including CSAM, triggers removals, suspensions, and law enforcement ties. “Prompting Grok for illegal material invites the same penalties as direct uploads,” it warned, aligning with Musk’s hardline.
This episode underscores India’s tightening grip on social media and AI, enforcing IT Rules amid rising deepfake and obscenity concerns. X’s capitulation signals platforms must prioritize local compliance or face escalating penalties.
