Social media giant Meta has apologised after a Facebook video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was temporarily restricted on its platform, attributing the incident to a technical error. The company said the content had been removed mistakenly and has since been restored.

The controversy erupted after a video shared by the Prime Minister regarding the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests was briefly inaccessible to users on Facebook. During the period it remained unavailable, users attempting to view the post were shown a message stating that the content had been restricted in India due to a legal request.

Meta Says Video Was Removed by Mistake

Responding to the incident, a Meta spokesperson said the restriction was unintentional.

"The content was removed in error and has since been restored," the company said.

The clarification came after the incident triggered criticism from several quarters, with concerns being raised over the temporary blocking of a post shared by the country's Prime Minister.

Government Seeks Explanation

According to reports, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has taken note of the incident and is expected to seek a detailed explanation from Meta regarding how the Prime Minister's video was restricted.

Government sources indicated that the issue is being treated seriously, and Meta's global leadership has reportedly been asked to clarify the circumstances that led to the temporary removal of the content.

Video Focused on Paper Leak Reforms

The video was uploaded while nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak were still underway.

In the address, Prime Minister Modi spoke about the government's proposed measures to curb examination malpractices, including the establishment of fast-track courts for paper leak cases and plans to strengthen the country's anti-paper leak law.

The message formed part of the government's outreach to students and young citizens amid growing public concern over examination irregularities.

Protests Ended After Government Accepted Key Demands

The controversy comes shortly after the 36-day-long CJP-led protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar concluded following the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The protest ended after the government accepted three key demands, including:

• Compensation for families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide.

• Withdrawal of FIRs and legal cases registered against protesting students.

• Resignation of the Education Minister.

Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down on July 25, following which protest organisers announced the conclusion of the agitation.

Digital Outreach to Young Voters

Reports suggest the Prime Minister has increasingly relied on social media platforms, particularly Instagram and Facebook, to engage with younger audiences.

The now-restored video was viewed as part of this broader digital outreach strategy, aimed at communicating the government's position on examination reforms and addressing concerns raised by students across the country.

The incident has also reignited discussions about content moderation practices adopted by global technology companies and the need for greater transparency in handling high-profile public communications.