06 - 08 - 2026

Zuckerberg Apologises Over Modi Video Removal as India Widens Scrutiny of Meta

Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has apologised for the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook video, an episode the company attributed to an automated moderation error but one that has since escalated into a wider examination of Meta’s role and responsibilities in India’s digital ecosystem.

The apology was conveyed on Wednesday as Meta’s global leadership, led by Joel Kaplan, the company’s head of global affairs, met Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after being summoned by the government over the July 23 incident. According to government officials, Meta expressed regret for the removal of the Prime Minister’s post and acknowledged shortcomings in its content moderation systems.

During the discussions, company executives also admitted to failures in tackling child sexual abuse material, deepfakes and other forms of illegal content. They further acknowledged that paid amplification had been used to boost certain categories of content, although government officials did not disclose further details.

The meeting marked a significant expansion of what had initially appeared to be a dispute over a single Facebook post. Government officials said they questioned Meta on algorithmic bias, safeguards for verified accounts, compliance with Indian law and the operation of recommendation systems that determine what users see online.

Officials argued that because Meta’s algorithms actively curate, recommend and amplify content, the company cannot claim to be merely a neutral intermediary. That distinction lies at the centre of a growing regulatory debate over Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, which grants online platforms conditional immunity from liability for user-generated content.

Hours earlier, Parliament’s Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology had intensified pressure on the company by demanding a personal apology from Zuckerberg within three days. The committee warned that Meta’s “safe harbour” protection under the Information Technology Act could be reviewed if lawmakers were not satisfied with the company’s response.

The committee, chaired by Nishikant Dubey, also sought a detailed audit trail explaining how the Prime Minister’s video was removed and subsequently restored. It questioned Meta over cyber fraud, deepfakes, child sexual abuse material, platform transparency and compliance with Indian regulations.

The video at the centre of the controversy featured Modi addressing nationwide protests over the NEET-UG examination paper leak and outlining the government’s proposed response, including legislation for fast-track courts and tougher penalties for examination-related offences.

What began as a technical glitch has now evolved into one of India’s most significant confrontations with a global technology company, raising broader questions about whether platforms that use algorithms to rank, recommend and promote content should continue to enjoy the legal protections afforded to neutral intermediaries.