A temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook reel has triggered political scrutiny, with Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman Nishikant Dubey urging Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to apologise. The committee has also sought details of the incident, while Meta attributed the removal to an algorithmic error and said the content was restored.
Mark Zuckerberg Faces Pressure to Apologise After PM Modi Reel Removal, IT Panel Warns Meta
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee Nishikant Dubey has cautioned Meta that it might be jeopardizing its safe harbour protection if its chief executive Mark Zuckerberg does not apologise for the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook reel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook reel removal has sparked a fresh political and regulatory row with Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology chairman Nishikant Dubey demanding a public apology from Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. The controversy is over the temporary removal of the Prime Minister’s video and wider concerns about platform accountability.
The comments were made at a Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting which was attended by senior representatives from Meta, Google, YouTube, X, Snapchat, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Facebook’s reel was briefly taken down before being restored, prompting the government to seek an explanation.
Nishikant Dubey warns Meta over safe harbour protection
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Nishikant Dubey said the removal is a serious matter, and Mark Zuckerberg should personally apologise. He warned that failure to do so could result in reconsideration of the "safe harbour" protections available to Meta under Section 79 of the Information Technology (IT) Act.
Dubey said the Prime Minister's video was not available from 12.30 am to 5 am. This incident shows a worrying attitude on the part of Meta, and the Parliamentary committee wants accountability from the senior leadership of the company, he said.
A reel on Facebook uploaded on July 23, spoke about the nationwide protests over the paper leak in NEET-UG. It also announced measures including a law proposal for fast-track courts and stricter punishment for those involved in the cases of examination paper leaks.
Meta attributes Narendra Modi reel removal to algorithmic error
The removal was down to a problem with the algorithm, an executive from Meta apologised to the committee, MPs who were at the discussions said. The executive said the issue would not recur in the future and the platform’s algorithms would be improved, according to the report.
Meta did not respond to requests for additional public comment after the meeting. The company has reportedly insisted that the temporary removal was an automated technical error, not a moderation decision.
The committee also sought a full audit trail of how the PM’s Facebook reel was taken down and then reinstated. Members wanted to hear about the safeguards Meta has to prevent similar circumstances happening for high-profile public communications.
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Opposition raises concerns over regulation and democratic expression
Opposition MPs rejected suggestions Meta’s safe harbour protection should be revoked over the incident. While supporting stronger measures against child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfakes, cyber fraud, and harmful AI-generated content, they cautioned against equating criticism of the government with anti-national activity.
One opposition MP said it should be Parliament curbing democratic expression, not tech platforms. The lawmaker said that regulation should not become censorship and questioned attempts to connect student protests with anti-national narratives.
The debate echoed broader worries about how social media algorithms influence public conversation, particularly at politically charged times. Opposition lawmakers also questioned whether the platform’s moderation decisions should be open to punitive regulatory action.
Committee expands scrutiny beyond Facebook reel controversy
In his opening remarks, Nishikant Dubey said the review of the committee was not merely about the removal of the Prime Minister’s post. Issues like misinformation, cyber fraud, AI-created content, deepfakes, platform transparency and compliance with Indian digital laws were discussed by lawmakers.
Under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, intermediaries such as Meta are provided limited immunity from liability for third-party content subject to adherence to due diligence obligations and compliance with lawful directions issued by the government. Revisiting those protections could have major implications for digital platforms operating in India.
With increased regulatory attention on big tech firms, the committee’s review findings may influence future discussions on intermediary liability, content moderation and digital governance. Sprouts News will monitor official developments as the broader debate underscores the changing balance between platform accountability, technological openness and democratic voice in India’s digital ecosystem.
