The Indian government has granted social media platform X

The Indian government has granted social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, a short extension to respond to concerns surrounding its AI chatbot, Grok, after the tool was linked to the creation of objectionable content.

On January 6, 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) allowed X an additional 72 hours to submit its formal response, pushing the final deadline to 5 PM on January 7, 2026. The extension was approved after the company informed authorities that key members of its global legal and policy teams were unavailable due to public holidays in the United States.

What the Government Is Demanding

While the full compliance report is still awaited, officials confirmed that X has already acted on immediate takedown directives, removing the specific illegal and objectionable material identified by the government.

However, MeitY has gone beyond content removal and is now seeking a deep-dive assessment of Grok’s internal safeguards. The ministry has instructed X to conduct and submit a comprehensive review covering technical controls, moderation processes, and governance mechanisms to ensure such misuse cannot recur.

Why Grok Came Under Scrutiny

The notice was triggered after reports surfaced alleging that Grok was being exploited to generate sexually explicit and digitally altered (“morphed”) images, with women and children among the primary targets. The issue drew sharp reactions from lawmakers and civil society groups, prompting swift intervention from the government.

MeitY had initially issued a 72-hour ultimatum on January 2, warning the platform to explain how such content slipped through and what corrective steps were being taken.

What’s at Stake for X

If X fails to satisfy the government with its response, the consequences could be significant. Authorities have indicated that the platform risks losing its “safe harbour” protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act. Such a move would strip X of legal immunity for third-party content, potentially exposing it to direct liability for material generated or shared on its platform.

The case is being closely watched as it could set a precedent for how AI-driven tools are regulated in India, particularly when they intersect with issues of child safety, gender-based abuse, and platform accountability.

By Advik Gupta