The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has called for a meeting with Meta’s global leadership to address several compliance issues related to the company’s operations in India. At the forefront of these concerns is the temporary removal of a Facebook Reel posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government is questioning how such an incident occurred despite the platform’s sophisticated content moderation systems. Meta quickly reinstated the video, attributing the removal to an error, and reportedly offered an apology to the Indian government. The video in question dealt with the NEET-UG paper leak and proposed solutions like fast-track courts and stricter penalties for those involved in exam paper leaks.
In addition to the Facebook Reel issue, the Indian government plans to scrutinize Instagram’s response to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on its platform. This comes after recent directives were issued to remove such harmful content and advertisements. The handling of CSAM is a significant concern as the government seeks to ensure platforms comply with India’s digital safety standards.
Another topic on the agenda for the meeting is WhatsApp’s proposed username feature. Authorities are wary of the potential risks associated with this new feature, including increased chances of impersonation, phishing, identity theft, and online fraud. Consequently, the government has requested WhatsApp to halt the rollout of this feature until further consultations can take place to address these concerns.
Throughout the meeting, officials are expected to underscore the importance of Meta adhering to India’s IT Rules. This includes stricter compliance related to AI-generated content, maintaining public order, and ensuring the accountability of platforms operating within the country. The government’s focus is on reinforcing regulations to ensure that platforms like Meta operate responsibly in the digital landscape, safeguarding user data and maintaining content integrity.