New delhi : ‘Apologise Within 3 Days’: Meta head Mark Zuckerberg has been asked to apologise within three days by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology because of the brief removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook video. During the meeting with Meta officials and government representatives, the committee also brought up the topic of the company’s “safe harbour” status under India’s IT Act, which might be subject to review in case the issue is not handled properly. This follows the earlier removal and restoration of PM Modi’s video, made possible because of Meta’s admission that it was a technical mistake.
‘Apologise Within 3 Days’: Why has the Parliamentary panel sought an apology?
The controversy stems from the temporary removal of a Facebook video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to reports, the panel viewed the incident as serious enough to seek a personal response from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg instead of relying only on the company’s earlier explanation. Committee members reportedly said the issue involved a post from the country’s elected Prime Minister and therefore warranted greater accountability from the platform.
What did the panel say about ‘safe harbour’ protection?
The committee linked the matter to Meta’s “safe harbour” protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, which generally protects intermediaries from liability for third-party content, provided they comply with legal obligations. The panel indicated that if Zuckerberg does not issue an apology within the stipulated period, it may recommend reviewing or withdrawing this protection for the company.
What was Meta’s explanation for the removal?
Meta has maintained that the Prime Minister’s video was removed because of a technical error and restored shortly afterwards. The company had earlier apologised for the incident, saying, “The content was removed in error and has since been restored.” However, government sources reportedly said the explanation was not considered sufficient, leading to further discussions with company representatives and the parliamentary committee.
‘Apologise Within 3 Days’: What happens next?
According to reports, the panel has instructed Zuckerberg to give an “unequivocal apology” within three days. The recommendations provided by the panel are expected to dictate the government’s future course of action while debates about content moderation and intermediary liability are still ongoing. As for now, all eyes are set on whether Meta’s management will take the steps required within the timeline set by the panel and what will follow thereafter.
