Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Given Ultimatum Over PM Modi's Video Removal

A parliamentary committee focused on Information Technology has issued a three-day ultimatum to Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, demanding an apology for the removal of a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In this video, Modi addressed students and Gen Z regarding controversies related to examinations. The Lok Sabha Secretariat has informed the government that if Zuckerberg fails to apologize, Meta's protections under the IT Act could be revoked, leading to potential legal actions against the platform. A letter obtained by a news outlet from A. Jyotirmayi, the Director of Lok Sabha, to S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Electronics and IT Ministry, references a meeting held on August 3, which included representatives from the Home Ministry, the Electronics and IT Ministry, and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.

The committee expressed serious concerns regarding the removal of the Prime Minister's video for approximately 5-6 hours from Facebook, which addressed the need for strict actions against examination-related controversies and paper leaks. During discussions, the committee insisted that Zuckerberg should issue an apology. The letter further stated that if an unconditional apology is not received within three days of the letter's delivery, the protections granted under Section 79(3) of the IT Act could be rescinded, and actions could be taken against Meta as a publisher. This section outlines exceptions where online platforms do not receive legal immunity for third-party content.

Nishikant Dubey, a BJP MP and head of the parliamentary committee on IT, previously stated that the rationale behind removing the Prime Minister's video was aimed at destabilizing the country. He emphasized the seriousness of the situation, noting that if a video from the Prime Minister can be removed, it raises significant concerns. Dubey also questioned the algorithms of social media platforms, highlighting discrepancies in viewership between registered political parties and unregistered groups. He pointed out that a recently formed anti-reservation forum had garnered 7 million views, indicating a bias towards promoting new entities over established ones. During the IT panel meeting, opposition members argued that dissent should not be criminalized, nor should satire be equated with treason. Meta representatives attributed the video's removal to a glitch in their automated content filter, claiming it was removed "by mistake" and has since been restored. The company also stated that there would be increased monitoring of posts from the Prime Minister and other significant accounts. However, sources from the IT Ministry deemed Meta's explanation as "inadequate."