The Parliamentary Committee on Communications and Information Technology has issued a three-day ultimatum to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, demanding an apology over the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s video from Facebook and action against those responsible. The committee warned that failure to respond could lead to a review of Meta’s safe harbour protection in India. The panel, headed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, described the removal of Prime Minister Modi’s video as an “attack on democracy”, arguing that the post belonged to the elected leader representing more than 1.4 billion Indians. The committee said social media platforms must be accountable for decisions involving content posted by public representatives.
“If Facebook does not take action against those responsible in this matter, the Safe Harbour Clause will be removed. Mark Zuckerberg will have to apologise. Otherwise, a case may be filed,” the committee said. Safe harbour protections currently provide legal safeguards to online platforms for user-generated content, provided they follow certain obligations under applicable laws. The controversy relates to a video posted by Prime Minister Modi on July 23, which was initially shared on Instagram before being uploaded on Facebook.
The video was described as his first direct selfie-style message and included remarks directed towards Gen Z, with promises of strict measures against paper leaks amid student protests led by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The Facebook version of the post was briefly restricted by Meta before being restored after criticism and public backlash. The company later explained that the removal was caused by a “technical glitch”. However, the Information Technology Ministry reportedly rejected the explanation, stating that Meta’s response was not satisfactory.
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Earlier this week, Meta representatives appeared before the parliamentary committee, where officials faced detailed questioning over the incident. The panel sought clarity on how the post was removed, why it remained unavailable temporarily, and what measures the company would take to prevent similar incidents in the future. The IT Ministry said that if the removal was indeed caused by a technical issue, Meta, being a technology company, should improve its systems to prevent such errors. The ministry questioned the effectiveness of the platform’s internal processes and accountability mechanisms.
The warning against Meta comes amid wider debates over the responsibilities of social media companies operating in India. Safe harbour protection has remained a key issue in discussions between the government and digital platforms, particularly regarding content moderation, transparency, and accountability. Meta has not announced any further action against employees or systems linked to the incident. The company’s response to the committee’s deadline will determine the next steps in the matter, including whether the issue escalates into a broader regulatory dispute over intermediary protections.
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