The Indian government has called for a meeting with Meta’s global leadership to address several compliance issues, including a temporary removal of a Facebook Reel posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is behind this move, which highlights concerns over Meta’s adherence to India’s digital regulations. Discussions are expected to focus on why the Prime Minister’s official content was mistakenly taken down despite the platform’s sophisticated content moderation capabilities.
Meta acted quickly by restoring the Reel on the same day, explaining that its removal was an error, and reportedly issued an apology to the government. The video in question covered the NEET-UG paper leak and outlined initiatives such as implementing fast-track courts and imposing stricter penalties for exam paper leaks, which are of significant public interest.
Another critical topic on the agenda is Instagram’s management of content related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and associated advertisements. This follows recent directives for the platform to remove such harmful material. The handling of CSAM is a pressing issue, and the government is keen to ensure compliance with its directives to protect vulnerable users.
In addition, WhatsApp’s proposed username feature is set to be scrutinized, as officials believe it could lead to increased risks of impersonation, phishing, identity theft, and online fraud. The authorities have requested WhatsApp to halt the implementation of this feature until further consultations are conducted.
The meeting will also likely underscore the need for Meta to adhere more strictly to India’s IT Rules, emphasizing areas such as AI-generated content, maintaining public order, and ensuring platform accountability. Through this dialogue, the government aims to reinforce the importance of compliance to safeguard users and maintain the integrity of digital platforms in India.