The Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, Nishikant Dubey, on Monday said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg should apologise for the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video from Facebook, warning that the company's legal protections under Indian law could come under scrutiny if it fails to do so.

The remarks come after Meta briefly removed a video posted by the Prime Minister on July 23, in which he described paper leaks as a serious issue and spoke about establishing fast-track courts to deal with such cases. The video was unavailable for several hours before being restored.

Committee Raises Serious Concerns

Dubey said the Parliamentary Committee had taken serious note of the incident and questioned Meta's content moderation practices.

He stated that if the company does not apologise, the government could consider reviewing the safe harbour protectionavailable to intermediary platforms under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act.

He also alleged that social media companies often prioritise certain content and users through their platform policies.

Meta Cites Technical Error

Following the restoration of the video, Meta stated that its removal resulted from a technical error and not from any policy decision.

The company restored the content after identifying the issue, maintaining that there was no intentional action against the Prime Minister's account.

What Is Safe Harbour Protection?

Section 79 of the Information Technology Act grants intermediary platforms legal immunity from liability for content posted by users, provided they comply with due diligence requirements and remove unlawful content when directed by competent authorities.

The protection is available to major digital platforms, including Meta, YouTube, X, Google, Amazon, Flipkart, Jio and Airtel.

If intermediary protection is withdrawn, a platform could face greater legal liability for user-generated content under applicable laws.

Investigation Into AI-Morphed Videos

Separately, Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have registered FIRs in connection with alleged AI-generated morphed videos, naming several social media account handlers.

According to reports, Meta India Head Arun Srinivas has been named as a co-accused in the cases, along with individuals accused of creating and circulating the videos.

Police are investigating those responsible for producing the AI-generated content, uploading it to social media platforms and amplifying its reach.

Meta's Global Team Expected in Delhi

According to official sources, investigators also intend to examine Meta's content moderation systems, algorithms and safeguards against the spread of manipulated content.

The company's global representatives are expected to visit New Delhi next week for discussions with Indian authorities regarding the functioning of its moderation systems and compliance with Indian regulations.

The Centre has not announced any formal decision regarding the withdrawal of safe harbour protection, and no action has yet been initiated under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act.

U.S. President Donald Trump hosted a seven-fight UFC card on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday night, a spectacle that combined the president’s 80th birthday celebrations with the nation’s 250th anniversary events. The headline bout ended with Justin Gaethje defeating lightweight champion Ilia Topuria by TKO in the fourth round.

Event on the South Lawn

The South Lawn was transformed into a 4,300-seat arena beneath a 92-foot translucent canopy nicknamed “the Claw,” with an eight-sided Octagon installed directly in front of the executive mansion. Organisers ran the show under the Ultimate Fighting Championship banner; CEO Dana White — a close associate of the president — led fight-night proceedings alongside White House hosts.

Gaethje scores TKO

The main event, billed as a high-stakes lightweight clash, went into the fourth round before Justin Gaethje forced a stoppage. According to initial reports and footage from the Octagon, Gaethje landed a sequence of heavy strikes that left champion Ilia Topuria unable to continue. After the referee halted the contest, President Trump and members of his family entered the cage to congratulate the winner, who raised his arms as fireworks exploded over the National Mall.

Other key results

Earlier on the card, Ciryl Gane defeated Alex Pereira by TKO to claim the interim heavyweight crown. Bantamweight Sean O’Malley and several other fighters also recorded stoppages or decisive wins, and multiple post-fight moments — including fighters greeting VIPs cage-side — punctuated the evening. The programme ran seven fights in total.

Security and guest list

Security officials said a heavy deployment of federal and local forces protected the event. Metropolitan Police, the Secret Service, National Guard units and other agencies were reported at perimeter checkpoints and crowd-control posts. A string of corporate and tech executives were among the invited guests; Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was visible in the crowd, and former boxer Tyson Fury made a brief appearance. Several Cabinet members and administration officials also attended, according to White House briefings.

Cost and logistics

Reports from outlets including The New York Times put the event’s cost — covering staging, security and related expenses for the UFC and its affiliates — above the level of a typical card, with estimates reaching into the tens of millions of dollars. Organisers erected hospitality spaces and opened several formal rooms inside the White House to fighters and guests for pre-fight access, including the Grand Foyer and Green Room, NBC and other outlets reported.

Questions over protocol

The event drew scrutiny on multiple fronts. Observers noted instances of flag-inspired costumes, which some said could conflict with U.S. Flag Code guidance that discourages using the flag as apparel. There were also fleeting controversies during the night: one fighter made a disparaging comment about former first lady Michelle Obama during a post-fight speech, and cameras caught the president briefly smiling at the remark. Separately, reports said several fighters might receive part of their bonus pay in a cryptocurrency tied to family-promoted ventures, a detail that raised questions about transparency and sponsorship.

Ground-level scene

On the South Lawn, fans chanted “Happy Birthday” to the president after the third fight, and several winners climbed out of the Octagon to greet the presidential box. Ground-level accounts described a charged, festival-like atmosphere late into the evening, with music, pyrotechnics and fans moving between the fan-fest area and the arena seats.

What’s next

The White House said the event was part of broader 250th anniversary programming and birthday events for the president. Officials did not immediately announce plans for similar sporting events on federal property. Media organisations and congressional offices are expected to seek further details on the full cost breakdown and the administrative approvals that allowed a professional mixed-martial-arts promotion to stage a pay-per-view-style card on White House grounds.