Tech Giant Faces Tough Questions from Indian Government Over Content Moderation, Child Safety and AI-Generated Deepfakes
New Delhi (Economy India): Meta has apologised for the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook post after senior executives of the US technology company met Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw amid growing concerns over content moderation and platform accountability.
According to government sources, the apology was conveyed following discussions between Meta’s global leadership and the Indian government. The issue has prompted authorities to seek additional clarifications from the social media giant.
Meta Acknowledges Error
In a written statement, Joel Kaplan, Meta’s Global Head of Global Affairs, acknowledged the mistake.
“I apologised to the minister on behalf of Meta for the error restricting PM Modi’s post,” Kaplan said.
Government sources, however, indicated that the apology was also conveyed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Government Raises Multiple Concerns
During the meeting, Indian officials reportedly questioned Meta over several issues related to platform governance, including:
- Temporary removal of the Prime Minister’s Facebook post.
- Handling of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
- Spread of AI-generated deepfake content.
- Transparency in content moderation policies.
- Allegations regarding amplification of certain content through paid promotion.
The discussions reflected the government’s increasing focus on digital safety, accountability and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Another Round of Discussions Scheduled
Government sources said Meta’s global executives have been asked to remain in India for another round of meetings on Thursday.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is expected to hold fresh discussions with the company’s global leadership along with members of Meta’s technical team to examine the issues in greater detail.
Focus on Platform Accountability
The development comes as governments worldwide continue to increase scrutiny of major technology platforms over:
- User safety
- AI-generated misinformation
- Data governance
- Content moderation practices
- Online child protection
- Digital platform accountability
India has consistently emphasised the need for technology companies to comply with local laws while ensuring transparency and user safety.
