Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has blocked over 3,500 posts and deleted around 600 accounts after the Indian government flagged the circulation of obscene and explicit content on the platform, according to official sources. The action comes after a strong directive from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which warned of strict legal consequences if immediate compliance was not ensured.
The ministry had issued a notice to X Corp last week, seeking an action-taken report within 72 hours. The notice specifically raised concerns over the misuse of X’s AI assistant, Grok, and other AI-based services to generate and circulate obscene, nude, and indecent images and videos, particularly targeting women in a derogatory and vulgar manner.
Government sources said X has assured the Centre that it will adhere to Indian laws and strengthen its safeguards to prevent such content from appearing on the platform in the future. The ministry observed that users were allegedly creating fake accounts and using AI prompts, image manipulation, and synthetic outputs to misuse the technology, reflecting serious gaps in platform-level enforcement.
MeitY has directed X to conduct a comprehensive review of Grok’s technical architecture and governance framework. It has also mandated strict enforcement of user policies, including suspension and permanent termination of accounts found violating content rules.
The government warned that failure to comply could lead to the loss of safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act. It also said non-compliance may invite penal action under multiple laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Indecent Representation of Women Act, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
Officials stressed that the issue goes beyond individual misuse and points to broader concerns around the unchecked application of artificial intelligence on digital platforms, underscoring the need for stronger accountability and regulation.
