Parliamentary Committee Demands Apology from Meta's Zuckerberg Over PM Modi Video Removal
Committee's Warning to Meta's CEO
A parliamentary committee has given Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg three days to apologize for the removal of a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Facebook. Failure to comply may result in the withdrawal of the company's legal protections, which could lead to criminal charges for posting objectionable content on Meta's platforms. In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, a director from the Lok Sabha Secretariat emphasized the seriousness of the incident, where the video was taken down for 5-6 hours. In this video, PM Modi addressed students and 'Gen Z' regarding strict actions against exam-related controversies and question paper leaks.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
The letter, signed by A. Jyotirmayi, stated, "During discussions, the committee demanded an unconditional apology from Zuckerberg. If he fails to respond within three days, the protections granted under Section 79(3) of the IT Act may be revoked, leading to potential actions against him as a publisher." The committee, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, also called for action against intermediary platforms that host content related to child sexual abuse and derogatory material against women. The letter warned, "If intermediaries do not remove such content, actions under Section 79(3) of the IT Act should be initiated."
Government's Stance on Google India
Additionally, the committee has urged the Indian government to take action against Google India regarding a case where investors lost over 4.8 million rupees due to fraudulent apps. The letter was sent two days after a meeting where the committee discussed 'Social and Digital Platforms and their Regulation' with representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and platforms like Snapchat, Google, X, Meta (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram), and YouTube.
Meta's Meeting with IT Ministry Officials
On Wednesday, Meta's global team met with senior officials from the IT Ministry following the incident involving the removal of PM Modi's post. The meeting addressed the improper handling of significant posts, the failure to effectively prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAM) on social media, and other regulatory issues. Senior Meta officials, including Joel Kaplan, engaged in a 45-minute discussion with IT Secretary S. Krishnan and other senior officials from the Ministry.
Concerns Over Social Media Accountability
Dubey expressed concerns about Zuckerberg's previous comments regarding the 2024 parliamentary elections, suggesting they could destabilize the country. He claimed that social media platforms do not adhere to directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Addressing the committee, Dubey highlighted the seriousness of temporarily removing the Prime Minister's official Facebook post and sought clarification on the rationale behind this action.
Meta's Explanation and Legal Implications
He stated, "Either there is a significant flaw in the system, or there was an intentional attempt by Meta and Instagram to tarnish the image of our Prime Minister. If Meta treats the Prime Minister's official post this way, what can be said about the posts of ordinary citizens? Such a flaw cannot simply be dismissed as a technical error." Meta attributed the incident to a technical glitch and expressed regret. The IT Act's Section 79 provides certain exemptions for intermediaries, but Section 79(3) specifies that 'safe harbor' protections can be revoked under specific conditions, including if the intermediary is found to have conspired or failed to act upon knowledge of illegal content.
Understanding Safe Harbor for Social Media
The 'safe harbor' provision offers legal protection to social media companies, shielding them from liability for user-generated content on their platforms.