X Tightens the Screws on Illegal Content After India’s Warning

 Elon Musk-owned social media platform X has signalled a tougher stance on illegal and offensive content, announcing that it will swiftly remove unlawful material and permanently suspend accounts responsible for posting it. The platform also said it will cooperate with local governments and law enforcement agencies wherever required.

The announcement came through X’s Global Government Affairs account, just hours after the company clarified that users who exploit its AI chatbot Grok to generate illegal content will face the same penalties as those who upload such material directly.

The move follows a strong directive from India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), issued on January 2, ordering X to immediately take down all vulgar, obscene and unlawful content, particularly material generated using Grok. The ministry warned that failure to comply could invite legal action under Indian law.

According to government officials, authorities had identified multiple instances of vulgar, obscene and otherwise unlawful content circulating on X, raising concerns about violations of local regulations.

Responding publicly to the issue, Musk posted on X:

“Anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content,”

in reply to a post flagging “inappropriate images”.

X’s Global Government Affairs team later reinforced this position, stating that the platform already takes firm action against illegal material, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

“We take action against illegal content on X by removing it, permanently suspending accounts, and working with local governments and law enforcement as necessary,” the statement said.

The company also shared a link to its platform rules, clarifying that while X allows consensually produced and distributed adult nudity or sexual behaviour, such content must be clearly labelled and must not be prominently displayed.

The latest crackdown underscores the growing scrutiny on AI-generated content and signals that platforms like X are under increasing pressure to align their moderation practices with local laws—especially as generative AI tools become more widely used.

BY: Nirosha Gupta