The Central Government has conveyed a strong message to Meta that digital platforms operating in India must comply with Indian laws and cannot function based on American legal standards, following the controversy over the temporary restriction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video on Facebook.

According to government sources, the issue prompted the Centre to seek an explanation from Meta, summon its senior executives and demand an apology after the Prime Minister's video was briefly restricted on the platform.

The matter has become a key point of discussion between the government and Meta as India steps up scrutiny of content moderation practices followed by global technology companies.

Centre's Clear Message

Sources told CNN-News18 that the government's actions were intended to reinforce that social media companies operating in India are bound by the country's legal framework.

"Platforms cannot be run in India as per US law. Every platform has a responsibility towards Indian society and must function according to Indian laws," sources said.

Officials maintained that digital intermediaries, like all other institutions operating in the country, are expected to comply with domestic regulations.

Meta Executives Meet Government

Meta's senior leadership, including Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan, is currently in India to hold discussions with government officials following the controversy.

The Centre reportedly questioned the company on how its content moderation systems flagged the Prime Minister's video and sought details of the safeguards that would be introduced to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also apologised over the incident, while the company attributed the temporary restriction to an unintended technical error.

The video, which was shared by Prime Minister Modi during protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has since been restored and is currently available on Facebook.

More Meetings Planned

Government sources said three to four additional meetings with Meta representatives are expected in the coming days.

Apart from the Facebook controversy, the discussions are likely to cover issues related to WhatsApp and other Meta-owned platforms. Officials are also expected to examine the company's compliance with India's regulatory expectations.

Focus on Child Safety and AI Content

The meetings have also included discussions on child sexual abuse material (CSAM), AI-generated deepfakes and broader concerns surrounding content moderation across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

The government has reportedly sought details of Meta's mechanisms to detect illegal content, prevent misuse of artificial intelligence and strengthen safeguards for verified public figures.

Broader Regulatory Oversight

Sources added that the government remains in regular contact with other major digital platforms, including X and Telegram, on issues related to online safety, platform accountability and compliance with Indian laws.

The latest developments come amid increasing regulatory scrutiny of global technology companies as India pushes for greater transparency, stronger content moderation practices and adherence to domestic legal requirements.