Government warns X over failure to curb obscene AI-generated content; 72-hour action report demanded
02:30 PM, Jan 03, 2026
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a formal warning to X (formerly Twitter) for failing to effectively moderate AI-generated content. The notice points to the misuse of Grok, the xAI service available on the platform, to create and circulate obscene, synthetic images and videos-often targeting women.
MeitY has directed X to remove unlawful material immediately, enforce stronger AI safeguards, and submit a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) within 72 hours. Non-compliance could lead to loss of safe-harbor protection under Section 79 of the IT Act and further legal action against the platform, its officers, and offending users.
What triggered the notice
The ministry cited repeated reports from parliamentary stakeholders and the public that certain content on X violates laws on decency and obscenity. It highlighted misuse of Grok to generate or spread manipulated content through fake accounts and through prompts and image manipulation targeting women who share their own images.
MeitY called this a serious breakdown of platform safeguards and enforcement systems, normalising harassment and exploitation online and undermining statutory due diligence requirements for intermediaries in India.
What MeitY ordered X to do now
- Remove all illegal content without delay and without tampering with evidence.
- Conduct a full review of Grok's prompt handling, output generation, image systems, and safety guardrails to prevent unlawful outputs.
- Strengthen content moderation, enforce user terms and AI usage restrictions, and take deterrent actions (suspension/termination) against violators.
- Deploy automated tools to proactively detect and prevent the spread of obscene and harmful content.
- Ensure the Chief Compliance Officer's effective oversight, and furnish information requested by government agencies in a timely manner.
- File an ATR within 72 hours covering technical and organisational measures for Grok, enforcement actions taken, and mechanisms to meet mandatory reporting obligations under BNSS.
Key legal exposure flagged
The letter reiterates that compliance with the IT Act and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 is mandatory, not optional. The following points were underscored:
- Section 79 (IT Act): Safe-harbor immunity is conditional on strict due diligence. It can be withdrawn for non-compliance.
- Rule 3(2)(b) (IT Rules, 2021): Content depicting an individual in a sexual act or impersonation must be removed within 24 hours of a complaint by the affected person or an authorised representative.
- Sections 66E, 67, 67A, 67B (IT Act): Penal consequences for privacy violations, obscene and sexually explicit content, and child sexual abuse material.
- Relevant criminal provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act, 1956.
- Section 85 (IT Act): Offences by companies and liability of responsible officers.
- Section 33 (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023): Mandatory reporting of certain offences, including organised cybercrime; failure to report despite knowledge or reasonable suspicion may attract action.
Why this matters for government teams
The notice goes beyond a single platform issue. It signals stricter enforcement of AI safety guardrails, faster takedown timelines, and higher accountability for intermediary due diligence. Expect closer scrutiny of automated detection systems, escalation workflows, and compliance officer oversight across major platforms.
- Track X's 72-hour ATR for concrete changes to Grok safeguards, moderation practices, and user enforcement.
- Coordinate across cybercrime units and women/child protection cells for rapid complaint routing and evidence preservation.
- Ensure awareness of 24-hour takedown requirements and mandatory reporting triggers across helpdesks and nodal officers.
- Document requests and response times to support due diligence audits and potential prosecution under company-officer liability provisions.
What to watch over the next 72 hours
- Whether X removes flagged content at scale and prevents re-uploads through automated tools.
- Specific guardrail changes to Grok's prompt processing, output filters, and image pipelines.
- Clear accountability: role of the Chief Compliance Officer, enforcement on repeat offenders, and BNSS reporting workflows.
- Government's next steps if ATR falls short-particularly on safe-harbor withdrawal and proceedings under IT Act, IT Rules, BNSS, and BNS.
References
Capacity building (optional)
If your team is standing up AI-safety workflows or training frontline staff on prompt/response risks and escalation paths, this curated catalog may help:
The notice was issued with approval of the competent authority and signed by Ajit Kumar, Joint Secretary, Cyber Laws, MeitY.
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