New Delhi | January 6, 2026 | The Central government has extended the deadline for X to submit a detailed report explaining the steps it has taken to curb the misuse of its artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok AI, amid growing concerns over the generation and circulation of obscene and unlawful content on the platform.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has now asked X to file a comprehensive Action Taken Report (ATR) by January 7, 5 pm. The extension follows a formal notice issued by the ministry last week, warning the company of potential violations of India’s digital laws.
Final Call: FCRF Opens Last Registration Window for GRC and DPO Certifications
The report is expected to spell out, in detail, the technical, procedural and governance-level measures adopted by X to prevent Grok from being misused to generate and amplify content that is vulgar, obscene, sexually explicit or otherwise unlawful under Indian law.
Concerns over due diligence under IT Act
MeitY’s intervention comes amid allegations that Grok has been exploited by certain users—often operating through fake or anonymous accounts—to create and share objectionable images and videos, particularly targeting women in a degrading manner. The ministry has flagged these instances as a possible failure of X’s due diligence obligations under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
In its communication to the company, MeitY cautioned that continued non-compliance could jeopardise X’s safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the IT Act. This provision shields online intermediaries from legal liability for user-generated content, provided they adhere to prescribed safeguards and act swiftly against illegal material.
Officials said the government’s concern is not limited to individual pieces of content, but extends to whether X has put in place robust systems to proactively prevent the misuse of AI tools hosted on its platform.
Review of Grok at multiple levels sought
The ministry has asked X to conduct a thorough review of Grok across technical architecture, internal controls and oversight mechanisms. It has also sought clarity on how the platform detects and blocks attempts to use the chatbot for generating prohibited material, and how quickly such content is taken down once identified.
In addition, MeitY has directed X to review and update its terms of service and content policies, take strict action against accounts found violating the rules, and clearly communicate the safeguards built into Grok to Indian authorities.
“The expectation is that AI-powered tools deployed at scale must operate within the bounds of Indian law, with clear accountability,” a senior government official said, adding that the responsibility lies with platforms to ensure their technologies are not misused.
X, Musk respond
Earlier this month, X’s Global Government Affairs handle said the company would act against content that violates its policies, including suspending accounts and cooperating with local governments where required.
X owner and CEO Elon Musk has also publicly stated that users who create illegal content using Grok would face the same consequences as those who directly upload such material on the platform. The remarks were seen as an attempt to draw a clear line of responsibility between permissible AI use and unlawful activity.
However, government officials maintain that assurances must be backed by enforceable systems and demonstrable action, especially as generative AI tools gain wider adoption.
Broader regulatory signal
The government’s move is being viewed as part of a broader push to tighten oversight of digital platforms and AI-driven services operating in India. Over the past year, authorities have repeatedly warned social media companies and OTT platforms that failure to act against obscene and illegal content could invite blocking orders, penalties or criminal liability.
With the January 7 deadline now in place, MeitY is expected to review X’s submission closely before deciding on the next course of action. Any adverse finding could have significant implications for how global tech platforms deploy and govern AI tools in one of the world’s largest digital markets.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
