Meta has apologised to the Indian government after Facebook briefly restricted a video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the Centre saying the company’s global and technical teams will be summoned again for further discussions.
The controversy has widened beyond the removal of the Prime Minister’s post to include concerns over child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfake content, harmful advertisements and Meta’s compliance with Indian law.
During a meeting with Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan apologised for the restriction, calling it an operational error. Government sources also claimed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg conveyed an apology over broader content moderation concerns, though Meta has not publicly confirmed this.
Officials have indicated that future discussions will focus on the company’s moderation systems, algorithmic recommendations and legal responsibilities under India’s Information Technology Act, making the episode part of a larger debate over the accountability of digital platforms.
Content Moderation Under Spotlight
The issue began after Facebook temporarily restricted a video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 23, in which he addressed students amid nationwide protests over alleged examination paper leaks and promised strict action against those responsible.
The video had first appeared on Instagram before being shared on Facebook, where it was briefly unavailable due to what Meta later described as an operational error within its automated systems. The company restored the post shortly afterwards and maintained that the restriction was unintentional.
Following the incident, Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan met Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi. In a written statement after the meeting, Kaplan said, “I apologised to the minister on behalf of Meta for the error restricting PM Modi’s post.”
He reiterated that the action resulted from an operational mistake rather than a deliberate moderation decision. However, the discussions reportedly extended far beyond the Prime Minister’s post.
According to government sources, officials questioned Meta over allegations that child sexual abuse material had appeared through paid advertisements on Instagram, the spread of AI-generated deepfakes, safeguards for verified public figures, algorithmic recommendations and the company’s compliance with Indian regulations.
Officials also reportedly said Meta acknowledged that no content moderation system is capable of identifying every harmful post in real time and that it continues to improve its detection technologies.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had already issued notices to Meta over alleged CSAM-related advertisements. The company has consistently maintained that it has a zero-tolerance policy towards child sexual abuse material and invests heavily in detection and removal technologies.
Government Tightens Oversight
The controversy has now evolved into a broader conversation about the responsibilities and legal protections of large social media platforms operating in India.
During the meeting, government representatives reportedly questioned whether Meta should continue to receive intermediary or “safe harbour” protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act if its algorithms actively recommend and amplify content instead of functioning as neutral platforms.
Officials suggested that the company’s legal protections depend on its ability to meet the obligations prescribed under Indian law. Separately, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has also taken note of the issue.
According to media reports, the committee sought an apology from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg over the temporary restriction of the Prime Minister’s Facebook post and warned that persistent failures could have implications for the company’s intermediary protections, subject to due legal process.
Despite Meta’s apology, government officials have made it clear that the matter remains unresolved. Sources said the Centre has asked Meta’s global executives and technical teams to remain engaged for another round of discussions.
The government is expected to seek detailed explanations on how the moderation error occurred, what technological improvements are being introduced to prevent similar incidents, how the company intends to strengthen safeguards against CSAM and deepfake content, and whether additional protections can be implemented for verified public accounts.
The ongoing discussions also reflect India’s increasing scrutiny of digital platforms over misinformation, online safety, artificial intelligence and algorithmic accountability.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The rapid growth of digital platforms has transformed how billions of people access information, communicate and participate in public life. With that influence comes an equally significant responsibility to ensure that moderation systems are transparent, consistent and effective in preventing harmful content while protecting legitimate speech. Errors involving public figures may attract widespread attention, but concerns around child safety, deepfakes and harmful online content affect countless ordinary users every day and deserve equal urgency.
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