The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a notice to X Corp, formerly known as Twitter, over the alleged misuse of its artificial intelligence service “Grok” to create and circulate obscene, indecent and sexually explicit content, particularly targeting women.

In the notice, the ministry cited X’s failure to meet statutory due diligence obligations under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the IT Rules, 2021. X has been directed to submit an action taken report (ATR) within 72 hours, outlining the steps adopted to address the issue, the involvement of the company’s chief compliance officer, and adherence to mandatory reporting requirements under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

Concerns over AI-generated content targeting women

The ministry said it has received reports indicating that Grok is being misused to generate synthetic images and videos in a derogatory and sexually explicit manner. According to MeitY, such content violates the privacy and dignity of women and risks normalising sexual harassment on digital platforms.

The notice warned that the unchecked use of AI tools for such purposes undermines existing legal safeguards meant to protect women and children from online abuse.

Directions to review Grok’s safeguards

MeitY has instructed X to carry out a comprehensive review of Grok’s technical design and governance framework to ensure it does not facilitate the creation or dissemination of unlawful content. The ministry also directed the platform to strictly enforce user policies, including suspension or termination of accounts found violating the rules.

All offending content must be removed immediately without tampering with digital evidence, the notice said.

The government cautioned that failure to comply could result in X losing safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the IT Act, apart from facing penal action under various laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Indecent Representation of Women Act, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

The notice was also marked to multiple ministries, commissions and state authorities, signalling a coordinated approach to tackle AI-enabled obscenity.

MP seeks safeguards for women’s safety

Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi urged the Centre to intervene, citing growing misuse of Grok on X. In a letter to Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, she said fake accounts were being used to upload women’s photos and prompt the AI tool to alter images in a sexualised manner.

Chaturvedi said the misuse was not limited to photos shared through fake profiles but also affected women who post their own images on the platform. Calling it a gross misuse of AI, she urged the government to ensure strong safeguards are built into X’s AI applications to make the platform safer for women.

She further alleged that Grok was enabling such behaviour by responding to inappropriate prompts.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has warned that India is witnessing an alarming rise in what he described as “white-collar terrorism”, where highly educated individuals are allegedly engaging in anti-social and anti-national activities.

Speaking at the 104th foundation day event of Bhupal Nobles’ University on Friday, Singh referred to the November 10 car bomb blast near Delhi’s Red Fort to underline his concern. The incident, which claimed 15 lives, revealed the involvement of medical professionals in the terror plot.

According to Singh, the case exposed how education without moral grounding can pose a serious threat to society.

“Today, an alarming trend of white-collar terrorism is emerging in the country. Highly educated people are working against society and the country,” he said.

Education must be rooted in values, not just degrees

Highlighting the contradiction in the Delhi blast case, the defence minister noted that the accused were doctors — individuals traditionally associated with saving lives.

“Those who write ‘Rx’ on prescriptions had RDX in their hands. This shows that knowledge must go hand in hand with values and character,” Singh said.

He emphasised that the true purpose of education goes beyond professional success and must include the development of ethics, morality and human values.

Delhi car bomb probe revealed ‘white-collar’ terror module

The explosion on November 10 involved an explosives-laden i20 car that detonated outside the Red Fort. Investigations revealed that the vehicle was driven by Dr Umar-un-Nabi.

The probe later uncovered a so-called white-collar terror module, leading to the arrest of several individuals, including doctors Muzammil Ganai, Adeel Rather and Shaheena Saeed, among others.

India’s growth and role of universities

During his address, Singh also spoke about India’s economic and technological progress. He said India is currently the world’s fourth-largest economy and is on track to become the third-largest by 2030.

Universities, he said, have a crucial role in shaping this journey by producing not only skilled professionals but also responsible citizens.

He also pointed to advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning and emerging technologies, stressing that they must be used positively to support national development.

Self-respect should not turn into arrogance

The defence minister further urged people to understand the fine balance between self-respect and ego.

“Self-respect is important, but it should never turn into arrogance,” Singh said.

He also expressed confidence in India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, stating that the country could become fully self-reliant in weapons over the next 15 to 20 years, citing the progress made by defence startups.

The Madhya Pradesh government has removed several senior municipal officials in Indore after contaminated drinking water led to at least eleven deaths and hospitalised dozens of residents.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Friday that swift disciplinary and corrective steps were ordered after a high-level review of the incident with senior officials.

Disciplinary action after high-level review

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said he reviewed the response to the Indore contaminated water case with the Chief Secretary and other officials, and examined a report submitted by the Additional Chief Secretary for Urban Administration and Development.

Following the review, directions were issued to the Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner and Additional Commissioner to serve a show-cause notice, immediately remove the Additional Commissioner from Indore, and relieve the in-charge Superintending Engineer of the Water Distribution Works Department. Orders were also given to urgently fill key vacant positions in the municipal corporation.

Chief Minister visits affected residents

On Thursday evening, Chief Minister Yadav travelled to Indore from Umaria district and visited Verma Hospital, where he met residents undergoing treatment after consuming contaminated water. He interacted with more than a dozen patients admitted to the hospital and reviewed their condition.

The state government has said corrective measures are being taken to prevent further incidents as the situation continues to be monitored.