Meta has come under fresh political and regulatory scrutiny in India after a Parliamentary Standing Committee reportedly sought an unconditional apology from the company's Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg over the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video from Facebook.

According to reports, the committee has warned that Meta could face consequences regarding its intermediary protections if it fails to respond satisfactorily to the issue.

The controversy stems from the temporary unavailability of a video featuring Prime Minister Modi addressing students and Gen Z audiences on examination-related issues and paper leaks. The video reportedly remained inaccessible on Facebook for nearly five to six hours before being restored.

Panel Demands Unconditional Apology

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has reportedly written to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), expressing concern over the removal of the Prime Minister's video.

Committee Chairman Nishikant Dubey stated that Meta should issue an "unqualified apology" within three days. He argued that deleting the Prime Minister's video reflected the actions of a publisher rather than an intermediary platform.

Dubey also urged the government to consider withdrawing Meta's intermediary or "safe harbour" protection if the company failed to apologise within the stipulated period.

Questions Raised Over Safe Harbour Protection

The committee's remarks have once again brought attention to the legal protections available to digital platforms under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act.

Safe harbour protection shields intermediaries such as Meta, Google, YouTube, X, Amazon and other digital platforms from liability for content posted by users, provided they comply with legal obligations and remove unlawful content when directed by authorities.

According to Dubey, platforms should not misuse these protections while allegedly allowing objectionable or harmful content to circulate.

Meta Officials Meet Government

Amid the controversy, a Meta delegation led by Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan reportedly met MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan in New Delhi.

The discussions focused on the temporary removal of the Prime Minister's video and the government's concerns regarding the incident. No official statement detailing the outcome of the meeting has been released so far.

Police Investigation Underway

The matter has also reached law enforcement agencies.

Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have reportedly registered two FIRs based on complaints filed by BJP workers regarding AI-generated and allegedly morphed videos circulating on social media.

Meta India Head Arun Srinivas has reportedly been named as a co-accused in the cases along with several social media account handlers.

Investigators are examining those allegedly responsible for creating and uploading the manipulated content, while also reviewing Meta's moderation systems and safeguards designed to prevent the spread of fake or misleading material.

Global Meta Team May Be Questioned

According to reports, Meta's global team is expected to visit Delhi next week for discussions with Indian authorities.

Officials are likely to seek explanations regarding the functioning of Meta's recommendation algorithms, content moderation practices, and the company's role in addressing misinformation and maintaining public order on its platforms.

The reported visit comes as regulatory scrutiny of major technology companies continues to increase in India over issues related to content moderation, platform accountability and intermediary responsibilities.

Broader Debate Over Platform Accountability

The latest controversy has renewed the debate over the responsibilities of social media companies operating in India.

While digital platforms maintain that they function as intermediaries hosting user-generated content, policymakers continue to examine whether certain content moderation decisions place them in the role of publishers, potentially affecting the legal protections available under Indian law.

The developments are expected to remain under close watch as authorities continue their investigation and await Meta's response.