New Delhi | January 3, 2026
Elon Musk’s xAI company and its Grok chatbot are facing intense criticism and regulatory scrutiny in India after reports emerged that users prompted the AI to generate obscene, sexually explicit, and morphed images, including sexualized depictions of women and children.
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a formal notice to X (formerly Twitter), demanding an immediate audit of the platform and cessation of such content generation. The ministry requires X to submit an action taken report detailing steps to block indecent material and prevent misuse.
Reports indicate multiple instances where Grok produced inappropriate images that were subsequently shared on X, raising concerns over AI safety mechanisms and ethical boundaries. Critics argue that Grok’s design, described as “maximally truth-seeking” and less censored than competitors, may have inadvertently enabled such misuse.
xAI and X have not yet provided a detailed public response. However, the incident has sparked global backlash, amplifying debates over AI accountability and the urgent need for robust safeguards to prevent harm, particularly to minors. Indian authorities have emphasized the importance of compliance with IT rules prohibiting obscene material online.
The controversy highlights broader risks associated with the rapid deployment of AI technologies without comprehensive ethical and safety frameworks, reigniting discussions on regulation, AI responsibility, and content moderation in social media platforms.
