New Delhi, Aug. 5: Meta has apologised to the Government of India after the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech video from Facebook triggered sharp criticism from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, which warned the social media giant that continued non-compliance could jeopardise its safe harbour protection under Indian law.
The apology came after senior Meta representatives appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, which expressed strong displeasure over the episode and sought an unconditional apology from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg within three days. The panel also warned that the company could face action, including the possible withdrawal of its “safe harbour” protection under the Information Technology Act if it failed to comply.
The parliamentary panel, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, questioned Meta officials over the brief disappearance of the Prime Minister’s video from Facebook. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw also reportedly raised serious concerns over the incident and sought an explanation from the company.
Following the meeting, Meta India’s Vice President apologised on behalf of the company, describing the removal of the Prime Minister’s video as an “inadvertent error” or technical mistake. The platform had earlier restored the content, stating that it had been removed in error.
However, the apology has not ended the controversy.
Several technology experts and digital policy observers argue that a mere apology cannot be a substitute for compliance with Indian laws. They contend that overseas social media companies must ensure greater transparency in content moderation and should be held accountable whenever errors affect elected representatives or ordinary users alike.
Many experts have also renewed calls for stricter enforcement of intermediary obligations under India’s Information Technology framework, arguing that platforms should not be allowed to repeatedly invoke safe harbour protections while escaping meaningful consequences for serious lapses.
The debate has also widened in the backdrop of ongoing scrutiny of Meta over other issues, including concerns relating to child safety and content moderation practices. The Centre has reportedly sought explanations from the company’s global leadership on multiple regulatory issues beyond the temporary removal of the Prime Minister’s video.
The controversy began after Prime Minister Modi’s Facebook video was briefly taken down before being restored. Meta initially attributed the incident to a technical glitch and expressed regret, following which the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology summoned senior company officials to explain the circumstances behind the removal.
While Meta’s apology may have addressed the immediate concerns raised by the parliamentary panel, the episode has intensified demands for greater accountability from global technology companies operating in India. Policymakers, legal experts and industry observers believe the incident could shape future discussions on platform responsibility, content governance and the continued applicability of safe harbour protections for digital intermediaries.
