Updated On: 05 Aug 2026
NEW DELHI: In a major showdown between the Union Government and Big Tech, senior officials of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) held a high-level meeting with top executives from Meta. The 45-minute confrontation focused on the erroneous removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook video message and severe lapses regarding Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on Instagram.
The government delegation was led by IT Ministry Secretary S. Krishnan, who met with a high-profile Meta team headed by Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan, Vice President Neil Potts, and Senior Director Rafael Frankel. The Meta delegation was also scheduled to meet Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
PM Video Takedown Triggers Algorithmic Scrutiny
The controversy stems from a July 23 video message in which PM Modi addressed Gen Z students, assuring strict action against exam paper leaks following nationwide protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The video was restricted on PM Modi’s verified Facebook account for nearly five hours before being reinstated.
Meta attributed the takedown to a “technical glitch” in its automated AI filters, explaining that the system mistakenly flagged the original post while reviewing related shared content. Unconvinced, the government demanded a detailed explanation regarding algorithmic bias and the failure of Meta’s technology despite its massive capabilities.
MeitY Secretary Krishnan stressed that digital platforms operating in India must strictly adhere to the law of the land, noting that accountability and public order take precedence. Government officials raised concerns over algorithmic functioning, content moderation processes, and how AI takedowns impact national security.
In response, Meta informed officials that it has introduced enhanced review mechanisms for posts by the Prime Minister and other prominent public figures, ensuring additional layers of senior-level oversight to prevent similar errors.
Parliamentary Panel Demands CEO Apology
The issue escalated further in Parliament. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, questioned Meta officials on who authorized the takedown while “objectionable content” remained online.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat formally communicated to MeitY that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg must issue an apology within three days. Failure to do so risks the withdrawal of Meta’s safe harbour protections under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, which shields intermediaries from legal liability over third-party content.
Adding to Meta’s legal troubles, police cases have been registered against Meta India head Arun Srinivas and specific accounts over allegedly morphed AI posts targeting the Prime Minister amid ongoing student demonstrations.
Action Demanded on CSAM and Synthetic Content
Beyond the video controversy, MeitY sternly flagged lapses in curbing CSAM, following a government notice issued to Meta regarding illicit content appearing in paid Instagram advertisements. Officials also scrutinised Meta’s handling of synthetic and AI-generated media, demanding stricter safeguards.
Meta representatives asserted that stringent internal rules and fact-checking mechanisms are already operational, maintaining that platforms are never used for misuse knowingly or deliberately. Another round of meetings between the government and Meta is scheduled for Thursday.
