Meta apologises for removing PM Modi's Facebook post, admits paid content boosting: Govt

Meta Platforms apologized on Wednesday, August 5th, for temporarily removing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook post. A spokesperson confirmed the incident to Mint. During a meeting with Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Meta's global delegation, led by Joel Kaplan, acknowledged issues with their platforms. Kaplan apologized on behalf of Meta for the error that restricted PM Modi's post.

Government officials confirmed the apology and expressed regret over the incident and other lapses in content moderation. Meta admitted to paying for boosting certain types of content. The temporary removal was attributed to a technical glitch, causing the post to be unavailable for several hours. Meta may lose its "safe harbor" status under Section 79 of the IT Act if it fails to comply with legal obligations.

The government demanded accountability from Meta, citing concerns about national security and platform operations. They questioned Meta's neutrality as an intermediary and its role in curation, recommendation, and content selection. The government also raised issues regarding child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, verified accounts, algorithmic bias, and compliance with Indian laws.