Centre Directs X to Take Down Obscene and Sexually Explicit Content, Seeks Report on AI Misuse

New Delhi | January 3, 2026 The Central government has ordered social media platform X to immediately remove and disable all “obscene, nude, indecent and sexually explicit content” found on its platform, particularly content generated or shared through the misuse of artificial intelligence tools. The directive has been issued under provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology Rules, 2021, officials said on Saturday. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has written to the Chief Compliance Officer of X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, instructing the company to carry out an urgent and comprehensive review of such content. The ministry has also asked X to ensure strict compliance to prevent the generation, hosting or circulation of unlawful and harmful material on its platform. According to the ministry, special concern has been raised over the misuse of “Grok AI,” an AI-based service developed by X and integrated into the platform. In its letter, MeitY said it has been observed that users are exploiting Grok AI to create fake accounts and generate obscene images and videos, particularly targeting women in a derogatory and vulgar manner. “It has been observed that the service namely ‘Grok AI’ is being misused by users to host, generate, publish or share obscene content, including sexually explicit images or videos of women, with the intent to insult, humiliate or indecently denigrate them,” the ministry said in its communication. The Centre has made it clear that such content violates Indian law and poses serious risks to the dignity, privacy and safety of individuals, especially women. The government said platforms are legally bound to ensure that their services are not misused for creating or spreading unlawful material, regardless of whether such content is generated by humans or through AI-based tools. As part of the directive, MeitY has instructed X to immediately remove or disable access to all such content identified on the platform. The company has also been asked to take action against accounts and users involved in uploading or circulating the offensive material. This may include suspension or removal of accounts found to be repeatedly violating the rules. In addition, the Centre has directed X to submit a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) within 72 hours from the date of issuance of the order. The report must outline the steps taken to remove the content, action against offending accounts, and measures put in place to prevent similar misuse in the future. The ministry has stressed that platforms using advanced AI tools have a greater responsibility to monitor and regulate how these technologies are used. Officials said that while AI can offer innovative services, its misuse to create sexually explicit or defamatory content cannot be allowed. The government also warned that failure to comply with the directive could attract further legal action under the IT Act and related rules. Under Indian law, social media intermediaries are required to act swiftly when unlawful content is brought to their notice and to exercise due diligence in preventing such material from being hosted or shared. This move comes amid growing global concerns over the misuse of AI-generated content, particularly deepfakes and manipulated images that can cause serious personal and social harm. Indian authorities have repeatedly flagged the need for stronger safeguards as AI tools become more accessible to the public. While X has not yet issued a public response to the directive, officials said the government expects immediate cooperation from the platform. “Online safety, especially the protection of women from abuse and exploitation, is non-negotiable,” a senior official said, adding that technology companies must align innovation with responsibility. The Centre said it will continue to closely monitor compliance and take further steps if necessary to ensure that digital platforms operating in India follow the law and protect users from harmful and illegal content. Centre Directs X to Take Down Obscene and Sexually Explicit Content, Seeks Report on AI Misuse The Central government has ordered social media platform X to immediately remove and disable obscene, nude, indecent and sexually explicit content found on its platform. The directive has been issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021, following concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence tools. In a letter sent to X’s Chief Compliance Officer, the ministry asked the platform to carry out an urgent and detailed review of content generated or shared through its AI service, Grok. According to the government, Grok AI has reportedly been misused by some users to create fake accounts and generate or circulate sexually explicit images and videos, particularly targeting women in a vulgar and derogatory manner. The Centre said such content is unlawful and causes serious harm to the dignity, privacy and safety of individuals. It stressed that social media platforms are responsible for ensuring their services are not used to create or spread illegal material, whether generated by users or through AI-based tools. Along with removing the offensive content, X has been directed to take action against the accounts and users involved. This includes disabling access to such content and acting against repeat offenders. The government has also asked the platform to put strong safeguards in place to prevent the future misuse of its AI tools. MeitY has further instructed X to submit a detailed Action Taken Report within 72 hours of the order. The report must clearly explain what steps have been taken to remove the content, deal with offending accounts and prevent similar violations going forward. The move comes at a time when concerns over AI-generated content, including deepfakes and manipulated images, are growing globally. The Centre said it will closely monitor compliance and may take further legal action if the platform fails to follow the directions.