Meta-Centre Row: Government Seeks Mark Zuckerberg's Apology Over Content Concerns
Government seeks Zuckerberg apology amid Meta controversy.
The Parliamentary Committee on Communications and Information Technology has given Meta a three-day deadline to seek an apology from CEO Mark Zuckerberg over the brief removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video from Facebook and take action against those responsible. The committee, headed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, described the removal of the video as a serious matter and raised concerns over accountability of major social media platforms.
The panel said the deletion of Prime Minister Modi's July 23 video, referring to him as the elected representative of 1.4 billion Indians, amounted to an "attack on democracy". It demanded that Meta investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure that similar actions do not take place in the future.
The committee warned that failure to act could lead to further steps, including a review of the legal protections available to social media platforms under the Safe Harbour Clause. The panel indicated that if Meta does not comply with its demands, authorities could consider removing the protection that limits the liability of online platforms for user-generated content.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Raises Students’ Concerns, Seeks Apology From PM Modi
The Safe Harbour provision currently protects intermediary platforms from direct legal responsibility for content posted by users, provided they follow certain regulatory requirements. The committee suggested that removing this protection could allow authorities to directly initiate legal proceedings against officials of social media companies in cases involving alleged violations.
The controversy comes amid increasing scrutiny of technology platforms over content moderation decisions and transparency practices. Lawmakers have raised questions about how platforms determine which content is removed, restricted or restored, particularly when posts involve public figures and political communication.
Meta has faced regulatory challenges globally over issues related to content moderation, misinformation and platform accountability. The latest development adds to ongoing discussions in India over the responsibilities of large digital platforms and the balance between online governance, freedom of expression and regulatory oversight.
Also Read: Sachin Pilot Alleges Delay In Rajasthan Polls, Questions Government
