PM Modi Video Row: Meta CEO Apologises After Facebook Takedown, What Happens Next?

The temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video from Facebook has sparked a major political and technology-related controversy in India. After facing criticism from the government and Parliament, Meta acknowledged that the video was taken down because of an operational error and issued an official apology.

According to reports, Meta executives met with Indian government officials to explain the incident, while the company's Chief Global Affairs Officer also conveyed an apology. The matter was discussed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, which sought greater accountability and questioned how such an error occurred.

The committee has reportedly demanded an unconditional apology from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and warned that the company could face stricter regulatory scrutiny if concerns over content moderation and compliance are not addressed. Discussions have also focused on the "safe harbour" protection available to intermediary platforms under Indian law, with lawmakers indicating that repeated lapses could invite stronger action.

The controversy extends beyond a single video. Government officials have also raised concerns regarding Meta's handling of harmful content, deepfakes, and child safety on its platforms. The incident has intensified the ongoing debate over how global social media companies should balance automated content moderation with transparency and accountability in India.

While Meta has restored the video and apologised for the error, the issue is unlikely to end there. Parliament and the government are expected to continue monitoring the company's compliance with Indian regulations, making this case a significant test of the relationship between global technology platforms and India's digital governance framework.