Grok AI misuse could lead to same consequences as uploading illegal content, says Musk

Microblogging platform X owner Elon Musk warned on Saturday that users employing the platform’s AI service, Grok, to generate illegal content will face the same consequences as those uploading unlawful material. The statement comes a day after the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) directed X to immediately remove vulgar, obscene, and unlawful content generated via Grok, or face action under Indian law.

Government Orders Action

The MeitY directive follows concerns raised by Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who highlighted the misuse of Grok to create vulgar images of women on social media. The ministry noted that users were allegedly using the AI app to create fake accounts to generate, publish, or share obscene material in a derogatory manner. X has been instructed to submit a detailed action taken report (ATR) within 72 hours.

Musk’s Response and Platform Responsibility

Responding to criticism, Musk compared Grok to a pen, saying the AI itself does not decide what content is produced, the user does. “Anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content,” he said.

The ministry emphasized that social media platforms must strictly monitor and remove obscene, vulgar, and unlawful content. On December 29, MeitY asked platforms to review their compliance frameworks and warned that failure to act could result in prosecution. Authorities noted that prior efforts to regulate such content had been insufficient, prompting this latest intervention.