Meta ready to apologise over PM video removal; BJP MP says it is not enough
According to sources, a senior BJP MP asked Meta officials why the Prime Minister's video was taken down, who authorised its removal, and why the platform acted against the video while allegedly leaving other objectionable content online.
Meta officials came under scrutiny at a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Electronics and Information Technology after BJP members questioned the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video from Facebook, sources told India Today.
According to sources, a senior BJP MP asked Meta representatives why the Prime Minister's video had been taken down, who authorised the decision and why the platform acted against it while allegedly allowing other objectionable content to remain online.
The MP also sought to know who bore ultimate responsibility for the takedown and whether Meta had identified the individuals involved.
Sources said the company representatives expressed regret over the incident and offered to issue an apology. A BJP member, however, told them that an apology alone would not be sufficient.
"The committee is seeking accountability. Those responsible for the decision should be identified, and appropriate legal action should follow," the MP said, according to sources.
The discussion took place as the parliamentary panel examined issues related to content moderation and the accountability of social media platforms.
GOVT HAD SUMMONED META EXECUTIVES
The parliamentary scrutiny comes days after the Centre summoned senior Meta executives to explain why the Prime Minister's video had briefly been restricted on Facebook.
"We have asked Meta to come in at the highest level and explain what is happening," S Krishnan, Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said on Thursday.
Krishnan did not specify which executives had been asked to appear.
He said Meta had informed the government that it had introduced new protocols for accounts belonging to prominent public figures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
The government had earlier sought an explanation from the US technology company, with officials describing the temporary removal as a serious matter.
META BLAMED TECHNICAL ERROR
The controversy erupted after a video message by the Prime Minister, first posted on Instagram and later shared on Facebook, was temporarily restricted on the latter platform before being restored.
Meta apologised and said the content had been removed inadvertently.
"The content was removed in error and has since been restored," a company spokesperson said, while sources attributed the incident to a technical glitch.
Government sources said the ministry had taken the matter "very seriously" and sought an explanation from senior Meta executives, including global officials.
PM'S MESSAGE AMID STUDENT PROTESTS
The video, posted shortly before midnight on July 23, marked Modi's first public message to students amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the anxiety faced by lakhs of students and their families and said the government had acted swiftly to ensure that an academic year was not lost.
He said those responsible for the paper leak had been arrested and jailed, while stressing that the government had mobilised available resources to conduct examinations for around 22 lakh NEET aspirants without further delay.
The address came during a week of escalating protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party, which demanded accountability over the examination controversy and the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Pradhan later stepped down as the Education Minister, following which the CJP called off its protest at Jantar Mantar.
Meta officials came under scrutiny at a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Electronics and Information Technology after BJP members questioned the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video from Facebook, sources told India Today.
According to sources, a senior BJP MP asked Meta representatives why the Prime Minister's video had been taken down, who authorised the decision and why the platform acted against it while allegedly allowing other objectionable content to remain online.
The MP also sought to know who bore ultimate responsibility for the takedown and whether Meta had identified the individuals involved.
Sources said the company representatives expressed regret over the incident and offered to issue an apology. A BJP member, however, told them that an apology alone would not be sufficient.
"The committee is seeking accountability. Those responsible for the decision should be identified, and appropriate legal action should follow," the MP said, according to sources.
The discussion took place as the parliamentary panel examined issues related to content moderation and the accountability of social media platforms.
GOVT HAD SUMMONED META EXECUTIVES
The parliamentary scrutiny comes days after the Centre summoned senior Meta executives to explain why the Prime Minister's video had briefly been restricted on Facebook.
"We have asked Meta to come in at the highest level and explain what is happening," S Krishnan, Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said on Thursday.
Krishnan did not specify which executives had been asked to appear.
He said Meta had informed the government that it had introduced new protocols for accounts belonging to prominent public figures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
The government had earlier sought an explanation from the US technology company, with officials describing the temporary removal as a serious matter.
META BLAMED TECHNICAL ERROR
The controversy erupted after a video message by the Prime Minister, first posted on Instagram and later shared on Facebook, was temporarily restricted on the latter platform before being restored.
Meta apologised and said the content had been removed inadvertently.
"The content was removed in error and has since been restored," a company spokesperson said, while sources attributed the incident to a technical glitch.
Government sources said the ministry had taken the matter "very seriously" and sought an explanation from senior Meta executives, including global officials.
PM'S MESSAGE AMID STUDENT PROTESTS
The video, posted shortly before midnight on July 23, marked Modi's first public message to students amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the anxiety faced by lakhs of students and their families and said the government had acted swiftly to ensure that an academic year was not lost.
He said those responsible for the paper leak had been arrested and jailed, while stressing that the government had mobilised available resources to conduct examinations for around 22 lakh NEET aspirants without further delay.
The address came during a week of escalating protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party, which demanded accountability over the examination controversy and the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Pradhan later stepped down as the Education Minister, following which the CJP called off its protest at Jantar Mantar.
Meta officials came under scrutiny at a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Electronics and Information Technology after BJP members questioned the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video from Facebook, sources told India Today.
According to sources, a senior BJP MP asked Meta representatives why the Prime Minister's video had been taken down, who authorised the decision and why the platform acted against it while allegedly allowing other objectionable content to remain online.
The MP also sought to know who bore ultimate responsibility for the takedown and whether Meta had identified the individuals involved.
Sources said the company representatives expressed regret over the incident and offered to issue an apology. A BJP member, however, told them that an apology alone would not be sufficient.
"The committee is seeking accountability. Those responsible for the decision should be identified, and appropriate legal action should follow," the MP said, according to sources.
The discussion took place as the parliamentary panel examined issues related to content moderation and the accountability of social media platforms.
GOVT HAD SUMMONED META EXECUTIVES
The parliamentary scrutiny comes days after the Centre summoned senior Meta executives to explain why the Prime Minister's video had briefly been restricted on Facebook.
"We have asked Meta to come in at the highest level and explain what is happening," S Krishnan, Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said on Thursday.
Krishnan did not specify which executives had been asked to appear.
He said Meta had informed the government that it had introduced new protocols for accounts belonging to prominent public figures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
The government had earlier sought an explanation from the US technology company, with officials describing the temporary removal as a serious matter.
META BLAMED TECHNICAL ERROR
The controversy erupted after a video message by the Prime Minister, first posted on Instagram and later shared on Facebook, was temporarily restricted on the latter platform before being restored.
Meta apologised and said the content had been removed inadvertently.
"The content was removed in error and has since been restored," a company spokesperson said, while sources attributed the incident to a technical glitch.
Government sources said the ministry had taken the matter "very seriously" and sought an explanation from senior Meta executives, including global officials.
PM'S MESSAGE AMID STUDENT PROTESTS
The video, posted shortly before midnight on July 23, marked Modi's first public message to students amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the anxiety faced by lakhs of students and their families and said the government had acted swiftly to ensure that an academic year was not lost.
He said those responsible for the paper leak had been arrested and jailed, while stressing that the government had mobilised available resources to conduct examinations for around 22 lakh NEET aspirants without further delay.
The address came during a week of escalating protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party, which demanded accountability over the examination controversy and the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Pradhan later stepped down as the Education Minister, following which the CJP called off its protest at Jantar Mantar.
