Meta Platforms has apologised for the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook post, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressing regret over the incident. According to government sources, the apology came during meetings between Meta’s global leadership and senior Indian government officials, where the company also acknowledged lapses related to content moderation, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfakes, and paid content promotion.
A Meta delegation led by Joel Kaplan, Global Affairs Head, met Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and IT Secretary S. Krishnan following the government’s decision to summon the company’s global leadership over the removal of the Prime Minister’s post last month. Meta had earlier attributed the incident to a technical glitch involving its AI-powered content moderation systems.
Government sources said Meta expressed regret over the post removal and admitted shortcomings in the operation of its platforms. Company executives also reportedly acknowledged that “a lot of money was paid for boosting a certain type of content,” though no further details were disclosed.
During the discussions, the government raised concerns over CSAM, deepfakes, safeguards for verified and high-profile accounts, algorithmic bias, and compliance with Indian laws. According to government sources, Meta also admitted that illegal content had been promoted and that paid promotions had targeted specific audiences.
The Centre reportedly informed Meta that it could not claim the status of a neutral intermediary under the Information Technology Act because its algorithms actively curate and recommend content rather than merely hosting third-party content. Based on this, the government argued that Meta may not qualify for safe harbour protections available to intermediaries that comply with Indian law.
The issue stems from the temporary restriction of PM Modi’s July 23 Facebook post, in which he addressed Indian youth and promised strict action against paper leaks. The video was first shared on Instagram before being posted on Facebook. Meta later restored the post and apologised, stating that its AI-powered automated filters had mistakenly removed the content.
Government sources indicated that Meta will be called for further discussions as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen platform accountability.
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