Meta admits error, apologises for restricting PM Modi's Facebook video

Meta apologised for the brief removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook video, with Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan calling it an error, as a Parliamentary Standing Committee demanded an apology from CEO Mark Zuckerberg within three days.

In Short

• Joel Kaplan calls the removal an error and apologises to PM Modi
• Earlier, Mark Zuckerburg apologised for child porn, operational errors
• Govt challenged Meta's safe harbour claim due to content boosting

Meta has apologised for the brief removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook video, with the company's Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan calling it an error.

"I apologised to the minister on behalf of Meta for the error restricting PM Modi's post," Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Meta, said.

The apology came as a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology on Wednesday demanded an apology from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg over the removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech from Facebook.

In a letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT, a director of the Lok Sabha Secretariat said protection and immunity for Zuckerberg may be withdrawn if he does not apologise within three days.

"The removal of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's video addressing students and Gen Z regarding examination controversies and strict actions against paper leaks from Facebook for 5-6 hours was viewed very seriously by the Committee," the letter signed by A Jyothirmayi said.

Separately, government sources said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologised for the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), deepfake content and shortcomings in operating the company's platforms during high-level consultations with the Centre.

According to the sources, government officials "grilled" Meta executives during the meeting and told them that the company also has a responsibility to ensure the safety of children. The government made it clear that platforms cannot earn advertising revenue from child abuse content while simultaneously claiming safe harbour protections.

Sources said the discussions covered platform accountability and content moderation but did not include any mention of the removal of Prime Minister Modi's video.

The apology over CSAM and platform operations came during a two-day meeting between officials of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Meta's global leadership on platform accountability, content moderation and compliance with Indian laws.

Meta admits mistakes in content moderation

During the discussions, Meta admitted mistakes in content moderation and expressed regret over the handling of harmful content on its platforms. The company's officials have been called for another meeting tomorrow.

Government officials also suggested that Meta may not be entitled to the legal protection available to intermediaries under the Information Technology Act because its algorithms actively determine which content is amplified and shown to users.

Safe harbour under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act protects platforms from liability for third-party content, recognising that social media companies cannot practically monitor every post uploaded by billions of users. The protection applies as long as platforms remove unlawful content when directed by courts or authorised government agencies.

However, government officials argued that Meta does not fall within the definition of an intermediary because its algorithms determine who receives content, making safe harbour protection under the IT Act inapplicable.

"It was made clear to them that they are not covered under the definition of an intermediary. They select who receives the content. Therefore, the safe harbour protection under the IT Act is not applicable," sources said.

The discussions also covered Meta's business practices. According to sources, the company admitted spending significant sums to boost certain categories of content and expressed regret over those decisions.

- Ends