Meta Faces Parliamentary Heat Over Removal of PM Modi’s Facebook Video
Standing committee seeks an apology from Meta, warning of possible review of legal protections if the company fails to respond.
New Delhi, Aug 6: The confrontation between Meta and Indian lawmakers intensified after a Parliamentary Standing Committee demanded an apology from the social media giant over the removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech from Facebook. The committee warned that the company’s legal protections could come under review if it does not respond within the stipulated time.
In a communication sent to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the committee expressed concern over the deletion of the Prime Minister’s address to students and young citizens, describing the incident as a serious matter requiring clarification.
The panel has reportedly asked Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to issue an apology within three days. It also indicated that failure to do so could prompt discussions on reconsidering the legal safeguards currently available to the company under India’s digital framework.
The controversy centres on the removal of a video in which the Prime Minister discussed examination reforms, paper leak prevention and measures aimed at strengthening transparency in the education system. Lawmakers argued that the content was of public interest and should not have been taken down without adequate justification.
The incident has reignited debate over the accountability of global technology platforms operating in India. Several members of the committee stressed that digital platforms must adopt transparent moderation policies while ensuring that content affecting public discourse is handled responsibly.
Meta has not yet issued a detailed public explanation regarding the removal of the video. The government’s response and the company’s clarification are expected to shape the next course of action as discussions over platform accountability continue.
