The Indian government has called upon the global leadership of Meta to address compliance issues, particularly concerning the temporary removal of a Facebook Reel posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This meeting, organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), underscores the government’s unease with Meta’s adherence to India’s digital regulations. Authorities intend to question the inadvertent removal of official content from the Prime Minister despite Meta’s sophisticated content moderation systems.
Meta has since reinstated the Reel on the same day it was removed and has attributed the incident to an error, reportedly extending an apology to the Indian government. The video in question dealt with the NEET-UG paper leak, detailing measures like fast-track courts and harsher penalties to curb exam paper leaks. The government’s engagement with Meta seeks to ensure such errors do not recur, emphasizing the need for robust content management practices on the platform.
Other critical issues on the agenda include Instagram’s management of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and related advertisements. The government has previously issued directives to remove such content and is concerned about the efficacy of Instagram’s response to these directives. Furthermore, authorities are scrutinizing WhatsApp’s proposed username feature, cautioning that it could heighten risks related to impersonation, phishing, identity theft, and online fraud. The government has requested WhatsApp to halt the rollout of this feature until further discussions are held.
During the meeting, officials are also expected to emphasize the importance of stricter adherence to India’s IT Rules, especially in areas related to AI-generated content, maintaining public order, and ensuring platform accountability. The government’s dialogue with Meta aims to foster a safer and more compliant digital environment, aligning with national regulations and user safety priorities.