The Central government has intensified its scrutiny of Meta after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook post was temporarily restricted on the platform, summoning the company’s global team to India to explain the incident. According to government sources, senior Meta executives will be questioned next week over alleged algorithmic bias, the functioning of the company’s content moderation systems, decision-making processes, and its responsibilities in matters affecting public order. The representatives are also expected to appear before a parliamentary committee.
The move follows an incident in which a Facebook post by Prime Minister Modi, addressing the country’s youth and promising strict action against examination paper leaks, was temporarily restricted on the platform. Following the episode, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) summoned a senior Meta executive to seek an explanation.
Government sources said the upcoming discussions will focus on how Meta’s algorithms operate, whether they display any form of bias, and the standards followed during content moderation. Officials are also expected to examine the transparency and accountability of the company’s decision-making process, particularly in cases involving content of significant public importance.
Meta earlier attributed the restriction on the Prime Minister’s post to a technical glitch and issued a formal apology. However, according to government sources, the ministry found the explanation inadequate. The company subsequently assured the government that posts published by the Prime Minister and other high-profile public figures would undergo additional oversight and review before any moderation action is taken.
Sources added that Meta has informed the government in writing that any action involving sensitive or high-profile accounts will now be subject to multiple layers of internal review, including oversight by senior company officials. The objective, according to the company, is to prevent similar incidents arising from technical errors or procedural shortcomings.
The government has also indicated that digital platforms could face legal and regulatory consequences if they violate Indian laws or fail to comply with their own stated policies. Officials maintain that social media platforms are no longer merely technology companies, but entities with a significant influence on public discourse, social stability, and democratic processes. Consequently, they are expected to uphold a high standard of accountability.
Meanwhile, parallel legal proceedings have emerged in Telangana. The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have registered cases against Meta India head Arun Srinivas and the operators of several Facebook and Instagram accounts over allegations that morphed and AI-generated content targeting Prime Minister Modi was circulated online. The complaints allege that manipulated videos and images of the Prime Minister were shared on social media during protests over the NEET paper leak issue. Police have issued notices to Meta and launched an investigation to identify the individuals operating the accounts named in the complaints.
These developments mark a significant escalation in the government’s regulatory scrutiny of Meta. The company now faces simultaneous examination by government authorities, a parliamentary committee, and law enforcement agencies over its content moderation framework, algorithmic decision-making processes, and handling of politically sensitive content. The outcome of the upcoming meetings and investigations could influence the future regulatory framework governing the accountability of major social media platforms operating in India.
