Meta Restores PM Modi's Video After Brief Removal Incident
Meta's Acknowledgment of Error
Photo: @TrishulTactics/X
New Delhi, July 28: Meta has recognized that the removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video from Facebook was a mistake and has since restored it. This action follows a summons from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to the global leaders of Meta and Instagram regarding the temporary blocking of the content, as stated on Tuesday.
According to a spokesperson from Meta, "The content was removed in error and has since been restored." The video, which was published on July 23, represented PM Modi's inaugural address to Generation Z during the 36-day student protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
Furthermore, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) called upon the Global Head of Meta and Instagram due to the incident involving the Prime Minister's video on Facebook.
In his address, PM Modi indicated that stricter measures against paper leaks would be discussed in the upcoming Cabinet meeting.
The video had attracted millions of views before it faced a temporary restriction on Facebook in the early hours of July 28.
Reports suggest that Facebook initially limited access to the video following what seemed to be a legal request.
However, Meta has since clarified that the removal was an error and the content has been reinstated.
Earlier this month, PM Modi's late-night video on social media resulted in a surge of approximately 1 million new followers on Instagram overnight, highlighting the extensive reach and public resonance of his comments regarding the paper leaks issue.
Observers have attributed the rapid increase in PM Modi's Instagram followers to his engaging selfie video addressing the exam paper leaks, bringing his total follower count to nearly 101 million.
PM Modi maintains a significant digital footprint on the global stage, ranking as the most-followed politician and world leader, with more than double the followers of other notable international figures, including former US President Donald Trump.
Beyond establishing a direct connection with the public, PM Modi’s video exemplified a blend of political pragmatism and governance principles.