The Indian government has called upon Meta’s global executives to address a series of compliance issues, notably the accidental removal of a Facebook Reel by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting, organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), aims to tackle Meta’s adherence to India’s digital laws. Authorities are particularly concerned about the mistaken removal of the Prime Minister’s content, questioning how such an error could occur with the platform’s sophisticated content moderation tools.
Meta quickly rectified the situation by restoring the Reel the same day, acknowledging the removal as a mistake and offering an apology to the government. The video in question involved discussions on the NEET-UG paper leak, proposing solutions like fast-track courts and harsher penalties to combat exam paper leaks.
Another critical topic on the meeting’s agenda is Instagram’s approach to managing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and related advertisements. The government has recently issued directives for the removal of such content and seeks further clarification on Instagram’s compliance with these orders.
WhatsApp’s proposed username feature is also under scrutiny. Indian authorities have expressed concerns that this feature could heighten risks related to impersonation, phishing, identity theft, and online fraud. The government has requested WhatsApp to put a hold on this feature until further discussions are completed.
During the discussions, officials plan to emphasize the necessity for Meta to adhere more strictly to India’s IT Rules, especially concerning AI-generated content, maintaining public order, and the accountability of platforms. The government’s actions underscore its commitment to ensuring digital platforms comply with national regulations.