The Indian government has summoned Meta's global head of public policy, Joel Kaplan, following the brief removal of a video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The video, uploaded on July 23, addressed the nation's youth amid ongoing student protests over examination paper leaks. In the video, Modi announced plans for stricter penalties against those involved in paper leaks. Meta stated that the content was removed in error and has since been restored.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) expressed dissatisfaction with Meta's explanation, describing it as "not reasonable." Government sources indicated that the issue is "far from settled" and requires further discussion.
This incident has raised concerns about content moderation practices on social media platforms, especially regarding political figures. The government is seeking assurances from Meta to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The summons underscores the government's commitment to ensuring that digital platforms operate transparently and in compliance with Indian laws. The outcome of these discussions may lead to stricter regulations for social media companies operating in India.
As the situation develops, stakeholders are closely monitoring the dialogue between the Indian government and Meta to understand the implications for content moderation and digital governance in the country.