Meta Says Sorry Over Restricting PM Modi's Facebook Post, Faces Government Scrutiny

Meta has apologised for the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook post, as senior executives of the US technology company met Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw amid growing scrutiny over the platform's content moderation practices.

Meta's Global Affairs Head Joel Kaplan, who travelled from the United States, met IT Secretary S. Krishnan and later Vaishnaw after being summoned by the government to explain why Modi's July 23 Facebook post was briefly restricted. The post featured the Prime Minister addressing students and assuring strict action against examination paper leaks.

In a written statement, Kaplan said he had apologised on behalf of Meta for the erroneous restriction of the Prime Minister's post. According to government sources, the apology also came from Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg. Meta had earlier attributed the removal to an error by its AI-powered automated content filters and subsequently restored the post.

Government sources said the meeting also focused on broader concerns surrounding Meta's content moderation systems. Officials claimed the company acknowledged shortcomings in tackling child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and deepfakes, while admitting that certain content had been promoted through paid mechanisms. However, Meta did not publicly confirm these claims or comment on the allegations.

The Centre also argued that Meta cannot claim the status of a neutral intermediary under the Information Technology Act because its algorithms actively curate and recommend content. Officials said this could affect the company's eligibility for safe harbour protections, which shield online platforms from liability for user-generated content subject to legal compliance.

The government further questioned Meta on algorithmic bias, safeguards for verified accounts, compliance with Indian laws and measures to curb illegal content. Government sources said the company may be called for further discussions as part of efforts to strengthen platform accountability.

The controversy has also drawn parliamentary attention, with a Parliamentary Standing Committee seeking an apology from Zuckerberg over the removal of the Prime Minister's Facebook post.