X Deletes 3,500 Grok Posts After India's Strong Regulatory Warning
Overview
X has removed 3,500 obscene posts and 600 accounts, largely generated by its AI chatbot Grok, following a stern notice from India's IT Ministry. The ministry warned of prosecution and revocation of legal protections if X fails to curb the misuse of Grok for creating harmful deepfake imagery, particularly targeting women. The platform has pledged full compliance with Indian laws.
X has removed 3,500 posts containing obscene content, predominantly generated by its AI chatbot Grok, following a stern notice from India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). This regulatory action also led to the removal of 600 associated accounts from the platform. The move addresses growing concerns over the misuse of AI tools for creating harmful deepfake imagery.
Government's Ultimatum
MeitY issued a directive on January 2, demanding X take down all vulgar and unlawful imagery generated by Grok. The ministry explicitly stated that the AI chatbot was being exploited to create fake accounts and publish derogatory or vulgar deepfake images of women, posing a significant threat. X was warned that failure to comply could result in prosecution and revocation of its legal protections as an online intermediary.
X's Compliance and Past Issues
In response to the government's pressure, X assured Indian authorities of its commitment to complying with all applicable laws and regulations. The platform has pledged to prevent the future creation and dissemination of obscene imagery. This is not the first instance of X, formerly Twitter, clashing with Indian regulators; the company has previously faced scrutiny and legal challenges regarding content moderation and compliance with IT rules.
