Meta is facing mounting scrutiny from the Indian government after a Parliamentary Standing Committee demanded an unconditional apology from CEO Mark Zuckerberg over the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook post. The panel has reportedly given the company three days to respond, warning that failure to do so could jeopardise the legal protections available to the platform under Indian law.
Government Holds High-Level Meeting With Meta
The controversy comes after senior Meta executives met Information Technology Secretary S. Krishnan in New Delhi to discuss the brief takedown of the Prime Minister’s video. Representatives were also scheduled to hold discussions with Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw as the government sought explanations over the incident.
According to IT Ministry sources, officials stressed that all digital platforms operating in India must strictly adhere to Indian laws and regulatory requirements. They also raised concerns over what they described as arbitrary content moderation decisions, saying such incidents require immediate corrective measures.
Committee Demands ‘Unqualified Apology’
The Parliamentary Standing Committee has reportedly taken serious exception to the removal of the Prime Minister’s Facebook post, which remained unavailable for several hours before being restored.
The video featured PM Modi addressing students and young citizens on examination-related issues and the government’s action against paper leaks. The committee has now asked Zuckerberg to issue an unconditional apology within three days.
The communication from the committee also indicated that continued non-compliance could lead to a review of the legal immunity currently available to Meta under India’s Information Technology framework.
Meta Defends Its Content Moderation System
During discussions with government officials, Meta representatives reportedly maintained that the platform follows stringent internal policies and multiple fact-checking mechanisms to prevent misuse. Company officials stated that no content is removed intentionally in violation of established procedures and assured authorities that internal safeguards remain in place.
Officials described Wednesday’s discussions as the first round of engagement, with further meetings expected to continue.
Debate Over Safe Harbour Protection Intensifies
The episode has renewed the debate over the responsibilities of social media intermediaries operating in India. Government sources reiterated that technology companies must remain fully compliant with domestic laws while ensuring greater accountability in content moderation decisions.
The matter has now become a significant regulatory issue, with Parliament closely monitoring Meta’s response and the government’s next course of action regarding intermediary obligations and platform accountability.
