Meta under fire: Parliamentary panel wants Mark Zuckerberg's apology over PM Modi video takedown
Facebook parent Meta has come under sharp criticism from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology after the temporary removal of a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with panel chairman Nishikant Dubey saying the company's apology is insufficient unless accountability is fixed and legal action follows.
Dubey said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg should personally apologise for the incident, warning that the company could face consequences over its safe harbour protections if it fails to do so.
"Mark Zuckerberg must apologise for deleting the Prime Minister's video," Dubey said after the panel's meeting with representatives from Meta, Google, YouTube, the Union Home Ministry and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Safe harbour provisions under Indian law protect online platforms from liability for third-party content, provided they comply with due diligence requirements.
'Who removed PM Modi's video?'
According to people familiar with the meeting, BJP MPs pressed Meta officials on who authorised the removal of the Prime Minister's video, in which he addressed students and promised strict action against examination paper leaks.
One senior BJP MP reportedly questioned why the Prime Minister's video was taken down while other objectionable content remained on the platform.
According to NDTV's sources, the MP asked: "Who removed the Prime Minister's video? Who bears the ultimate responsibility?"
Meta expressed regret during the meeting and apologised, attributing the removal to a technical glitch.
However, MPs maintained that the issue went beyond an apology and demanded that responsibility be identified and legal action examined.
The MP also questioned what protection ordinary Indian users could expect if even the Prime Minister's content could be removed without explanation.
CSAM, Algorithms also under scrutiny
The parliamentary panel also questioned Meta over child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on its platforms and broader concerns surrounding content moderation.
Dubey said the discussion also focused on the functioning of social media algorithms, alleging that newer, unregistered groups were receiving significantly greater visibility than established political parties.
"The committee is unanimous on these issues. This is a non-partisan matter," he told reporters, adding that the algorithms used by Meta, YouTube and X require closer scrutiny.
Warning over safe harbour
Calling the temporary removal of the Prime Minister's video "a very serious matter", Dubey claimed the content remained unavailable for nearly five hours before it was restored.
"Our committee has said two things—that the apology should come from Mark Zuckerberg, and if it does not, then the safe harbour protection available to Meta should be reconsidered," he said.
MeitY steps up scrutiny
The controversy comes days after MeitY summoned Meta's global leadership over concerns relating to algorithmic bias, platform processes and their potential impact on public order.
As per NDTV's government sources, the ministry found Meta's explanation of a technical glitch to be "inadequate".
Separately, Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have registered cases against Meta India head Arun Srinivas and several Facebook and Instagram accounts over allegedly AI-generated and morphed posts targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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