The Government of India is reportedly examining the possibility of revoking the safe harbour protections granted to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) following allegations of misuse of its AI chatbot, Grok. According to sources, regulators have raised concerns that Grok has been used to disseminate misleading and harmful content, prompting discussions at the highest levels about stricter accountability for the platform.
Under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, intermediaries such as X enjoy safe harbour provisions, shielding them from liability for user-generated content, provided they comply with due diligence requirements. However, officials are said to be reviewing whether X has failed to meet these obligations, particularly in relation to the deployment and monitoring of Grok.
The reported misuse includes instances where Grok allegedly generated content that could be considered misleading, offensive, or in violation of Indian law. Authorities are assessing whether such lapses amount to negligence on the part of the platform, thereby justifying the withdrawal of its safe harbour status.
If revoked, X would be directly liable for all content hosted and disseminated through its platform in India, including outputs from Grok. This could significantly alter the company’s legal standing and operational responsibilities, forcing it to adopt stricter moderation and compliance mechanisms.
Industry experts note that such a move would mark a major precedent in India’s digital regulatory landscape, potentially reshaping how AI-driven tools are governed. It would also signal the government’s intent to hold platforms accountable for emerging technologies that influence public discourse.
X has not yet issued an official response to the reports. The matter remains under consideration, with further clarity expected once the government finalizes its stance.
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