Social media remains favorable for a user as long as they receive support from friends or followers. Everything seems fine when they get likes and comments, but the moment criticism arises, the easiest solution is—block. After all, listening to criticism is difficult. What applies to an ordinary netizen now seems to be the case for the BJP-led central government as well. However, the Modi government is not directly struggling with social media. The problem has emerged from Elon Musk-owned AI chatbot Grok.
The recently introduced chatbot model, Grok-3, from xAI, has openly exposed the carefully curated image of the BJP. Anonymous users have asked Grok questions about the BJP, the RSS’s role in the independence movement, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualifications—questions to which Grok has responded candidly. These straightforward responses are now being widely shared on social media, leading to waves of laughter and criticism against the BJP, the RSS, and Modi. Such news is now almost rare in mainstream Indian media. This situation has put the social media-savvy BJP in a dilemma, as their meticulously crafted image is crumbling. Thus, just like any regular social media user trying to escape criticism or uncomfortable topics, the central government also seeks a way out—block.
However, while an individual user can block or report someone instantly, a government cannot simply ban an AI model that easily. At the same time, tolerating such criticism is also difficult for the government. Hence, citing accusations of ‘arrogant’ behavior, the use of inappropriate language, and the spread of provocative information, the Modi government is taking steps to silence Grok. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has engaged in discussions with Grok and X’s authorities regarding taking action against the AI for using offensive words. While some media outlets reported that the Modi government has issued a notice to X, the ministry has denied this claim. According to a ministry source, they are reviewing the matter and have had informal discussions with Grok and X’s management. However, this is being seen as the first step toward banning Grok in India.
If Elon Musk’s Grok does not stop its so-called ‘arrogant behavior’—meaning if it does not cease giving such responses about the BJP, RSS, and Modi—it could soon face a ban in India. The government’s concern over offensive language is merely a pretext; the real objective is to curb the dissemination of factual information about the BJP, RSS, and Modi.