Centre seeks detailed audit of X’s Grok chatbot over alleged obscene images
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has asked social media platform X to carry out an extensive technical and governance review of its artificial intelligence chatbot Grok, following concerns that the tool is being misused to generate and circulate obscene and derogatory images of women.
In a letter issued on Friday to X’s Chief Compliance Officer in India, the Ministry said it had come across instances where users allegedly exploited Grok through fake accounts to create or share altered images and videos of women in a vulgar manner. The government directed the platform to examine the functioning of the chatbot and the safeguards governing its use, and to take immediate corrective steps, as reported by The Hindu.
The issue was raised earlier in the day by Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who wrote to Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagging reports that the chatbot had responded to prompts seeking to undress or modify women’s photographs. Following this, the Ministry moved to formally seek an explanation and action from the platform.
The government's statement made it clear that compliance with the Information Technology Act and IT Rules, 2021, is required. It further stated that the legal protection provided to facilitators under Section 79 of the IT Act is only applicable if due diligence responsibilities are srictly followed. It further warned that the creation or distribution of such content could result in legal action under other applicable laws.
Ensuring that evidence is preserved, X has been instructed to remove or disable access to any content already generated or disseminated in violation of the law, without delay. The platform has been asked to submit an Action Taken Report by January 5, 2026, with details of the steps it has taken in response to the directions.
The Ministry warned that failure to comply would be viewed seriously, leading to legal action against the platform, its responsible officials and users involved in violations, under the IT Act, IT Rules, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and other relevant statutes.
Grok functions as a separate artificial intelligence entity under X’s holding structure but operates actively on the platform, interacting automatically with users. Elon Musk, who owns Grok, has previously described the chatbot as less restricted in its responses compared to other AI systems.
Noting that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology has recommended stricter laws to deal with obscene content online, Vaishnaw had earlier said, social media companies must take responsibility for the content circulating on their platforms.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
