New Delhi: Social media platform X has acknowledged shortcomings in its content moderation systems and admitted to errors in handling objectionable material, government sources said on Sunday. The company has assured Indian authorities that it will strictly adhere to all domestic laws and regulatory requirements going forward.
The assurance comes amid heightened scrutiny over the circulation of obscene and sexually explicit content on the platform, some of which was allegedly generated or amplified through X’s artificial intelligence tool, Grok. In response to government concerns, X has blocked nearly 3,500 posts and removed more than 600 user accounts linked to such content.
Officials said the company has also committed to tightening its moderation framework and has stated that it will not allow explicit imagery on the platform in the future, particularly content involving non-consensual or sexualised depictions.
Government sought detailed action plan
On January 7, the Centre had sought clarifications from X on the specific steps taken to address the misuse of Grok and the safeguards being put in place to prevent similar incidents. While X submitted a detailed response to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), officials indicated that the explanation fell short of expectations, lacking concrete details on technical interventions related to the AI tool.
Sources said X reiterated in its reply that it respects Indian laws and guidelines and described India as a key market. The platform also outlined its broader policies on content takedowns, misinformation and non-consensual sexual imagery. However, authorities noted that the response did not sufficiently explain how Grok’s systems had been corrected to prevent the generation or spread of obscene content.
MeitY issues stern notice
MeitY has since issued a strong notice to the Elon Musk-owned platform, citing failure to meet due diligence obligations under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021. The ministry has asked X to submit a detailed action-taken report within 72 hours, including compliance measures, the role of its chief compliance officer and adherence to reporting requirements under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
The ministry expressed serious concern over reports that Grok had been misused to create explicit synthetic images and videos targeting women, calling such acts a violation of privacy and dignity. Officials warned that unchecked use of such technology could normalise online harassment and weaken legal protections.
X has been directed to immediately review and strengthen Grok’s technical safeguards, enforce user policies more strictly, and ensure swift removal of unlawful content while preserving evidence for investigation.
