Govt asks Meta to revamp algorithms, curb spread of propaganda: Report
The government has sought these specific changes as part of efforts to strengthen the detection and removal of harmful and manipulated content.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has requested Meta to overhaul its algorithms and create a compliance roadmap to curb the proliferation of deepfakes, propaganda, and other manipulated or unlawful content on its platforms, according to government sources. The focus of these algorithmic changes lies in enhancing the detection and elimination of harmful and manipulated content, as MeitY officials aim to strengthen the overall content moderation systems, hasten responses to takedown requests from authorized government agencies, and adhere to data localization regulations.
This request followed a meeting between Meta's technical team and MeitY officials on Friday, where Meta outlined its existing systems for identifying and managing harmful content online. Government officials, however, sought concrete algorithmic amendments aimed at restricting the spread of propaganda, deepfakes, and manipulated media content across Meta's platforms.
Both parties agreed to continue their discussions, with a subsequent meeting slated for the next week. The government's increased scrutiny of Meta is primarily due to concerns surrounding deepfakes, Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), and other detrimental content on its platforms. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had previously apologized for errors concerning CSAM and deepfake content on the company's platforms after receiving complaints from the Indian government.
This ongoing dialogue between the government and Meta also coincides with India's recent tightening of its regulatory framework for synthetically generated content, including deepfakes. Earlier this year, the government amended the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules to introduce a specific regulatory framework for synthetically generated information and enforce stricter due diligence requirements on online intermediaries.
The debate surrounding online platforms' compliance with Indian law, particularly their responsibilities towards users and society, remains a focal point for the government's ongoing engagement with Meta.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
