Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has written to the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, calling for urgent action after reports that artificial intelligence tools on social media are being used to produce objectionable images of women. In her letter, Chaturvedi described a pattern of misuse on X where men, using fake accounts, prompt the platform’s Grok feature to reduce clothing and sexualise women in photographs.
AI misuse against women prompts urgent safeguards
Chaturvedi told the minister that the behaviour is not confined to images shared by others. Women who post their own photographs are also being targeted. She argued that the facilitation of this activity by an AI function represents a serious breach of privacy and an unauthorised use of personal images that is unethical and may amount to criminal conduct.
“What is worse is that Grok is enabling this behaviour by adhering to such requests,” she wrote. The MP urged the Ministry to take decisive action against the social media platform and to implement safeguards in AI-driven tools to ensure women’s safety online.
The letter warned that India’s digital spaces cannot remain a bystander while women’s dignity is violated publicly and digitally under the guise of creativity and innovation. Chaturvedi highlighted similar patterns appearing on other major tech platforms and urged the government to make the issue a priority so women are not silenced or forced off these services.
Legal and policy experts say the concerns raised touch on several areas. There are questions about platform moderation, the transparency of AI systems, and whether existing laws on privacy, image rights and online harassment are adequate to address harms produced by machine-assisted image manipulation. Rapid advances in generative tools have outpaced some moderation practices, leaving gaps that can be exploited by bad actors.
Possible measures to address the problem include stronger account verification to prevent fake profiles, clearer terms of service that bar AI prompts aimed at sexualising real people, improved reporting and takedown procedures, and algorithmic audits to prevent models from complying with harmful requests. Governments may also consider targeted regulations requiring platforms to design safety-by-default settings and to publish transparency reports on misuse.
Platform responses will be closely watched. Tech companies have argued that AI systems are also capable of supporting privacy and safety, but civil society groups say that without robust safeguards these tools can facilitate abuse at scale. Chaturvedi’s letter seeks both immediate action from the ministry and engagement with big tech firms to ensure rapid remediation of harmful content.
While the MP acknowledged the benefits of artificial intelligence, she insisted that India will not tolerate the spread of demeaning content that targets women. She expressed hope that the Ministry would take up the issue urgently with major platforms to protect women’s rights and to ensure that online spaces remain safe and inclusive.
The case highlights the broader challenge facing regulators worldwide: how to balance innovation with protection of fundamental rights as AI tools become increasingly integrated into social media services. For now, Indian authorities have been asked to press tech firms for immediate safeguards to prevent further harm.
Key Takeaways:
- Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has written to the Union IT Minister over alleged misuse of X’s Grok feature to sexualise women.
- The complaint describes fake accounts posting and altering women’s photos, calling it a breach of privacy and potentially criminal conduct.
- Chaturvedi urged urgent intervention and safeguards in AI-driven tools to protect women and hold platforms accountable.
