The Central government has summoned senior global executives of Meta, including Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan, for a meeting next week as it intensifies scrutiny of the social media company over concerns related to algorithmic bias, public order and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to officials familiar with the matter, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has raised concerns about the presence of harmful content on Meta's platforms and is seeking detailed explanations regarding the company's content moderation and recommendation systems. The dates for the meeting are currently being finalised.

Government officials have reportedly expressed concern over content that could affect public order, as well as posts that allegedly violate Meta's own community standards. They have also raised issues regarding the handling of child sexual abuse material, stating that the continued presence of such content could have implications for the company's safe harbour protections under Indian law. Safe harbour provisions generally protect online platforms from liability for user-generated content, provided they comply with applicable legal requirements and due diligence obligations.

In addition to senior leadership, the government has specifically requested that Meta send a technical representative from Instagram to the meeting. Officials are expected to seek a detailed understanding of how Instagram's algorithms, recommendation systems and content moderation mechanisms function. The discussions are likely to focus on allegations of algorithmic bias, the transparency of automated systems and the steps taken by the company to identify and remove harmful or unlawful content from its platforms.

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Officials have reiterated that companies operating in India must comply with the country's legal and regulatory framework. According to sources, the government intends to examine whether Meta's practices align with Indian laws governing digital platforms, user safety and intermediary responsibilities. The meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to discuss compliance measures and the company's approach to content governance.

Apart from the discussions with MeitY, Meta's representatives are also expected to appear before a parliamentary panel to address lawmakers' concerns regarding the functioning of its platforms. The latest move reflects the government's broader efforts to increase oversight of major technology companies and ensure greater accountability in areas such as online safety, algorithmic transparency and the prevention of harmful content.

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