Elon Musk's Warning: Consequences Await Users of AI Tool Grok for Illegal Content
Elon Musk Addresses AI Misuse on X
New Delhi: Elon Musk, the owner of the microblogging platform X, has issued a stern warning regarding the use of the platform's AI service, Grok. He stated that individuals who utilize Grok to produce illegal content will face the same repercussions as those who directly upload such content.
This announcement follows a directive from the Ministry of Electronics and IT, which instructed X to promptly eliminate all vulgar, obscene, and unlawful content, particularly that generated by the Grok AI application, or risk facing legal action.
In a response to concerns about 'inappropriate images,' Musk emphasized, "Anyone using Grok to create illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content." He further clarified that blaming Grok for inappropriate outputs is akin to blaming a pen for poor writing; the responsibility lies with the user.
The Ministry has mandated X to take decisive action against offending content, users, and accounts, requiring a detailed action taken report (ATR) within 72 hours of the order's issuance.
The government has received numerous complaints, including from parliamentary representatives, indicating that certain types of content on X may violate laws concerning decency and obscenity.
This directive was prompted by a letter from Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighting the rising misuse of the Grok AI app to create vulgar images of women shared on social media.
The government order noted that the Grok AI service is being exploited by users to create fake accounts for the purpose of generating, publishing, or sharing obscene images or videos of women in a derogatory manner.
On December 29, the Ministry of Electronics and IT urged social media companies to reassess their compliance frameworks and take action against obscene and unlawful content, warning that failure to do so could lead to prosecution under local laws.
This advisory came after the Ministry observed that social media platforms were not adequately addressing issues related to obscene, vulgar, and inappropriate content.