Meta vs Government of India: Tech Giant Assures Extra Protection for PM Modi’s Posts After MeitY Flags Facebook Video Removal

Tech giant Meta has informed the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) that content posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other prominent figures will now face enhanced safeguards, including manual oversight and multi-level reviews by senior executives.

The company's official communication comes after the Indian government expressed strong dissatisfaction with Meta’s initial explanation regarding the brief restriction of a video posted on Prime Minister Modi’s official Facebook page. According to sources familiar with the matter, a high-level team from Meta is expected to meet with IT Ministry officials later this week or early next week to discuss systemic fixes and regulatory compliance. Meta vs Government of India: Centre Says Meta's Explanation Over PM Narendra Modi's Post Removal 'Unreasonable'; Summons Policy Chief.

Enhanced Safeguards and Senior-Level Oversight

In its written communication to the IT Ministry, Meta outlined specific safeguards aimed at preventing automated content moderation errors on high-profile accounts. The social media company stated that posts originating from verified handles of constitutional leaders and prominent public figures will no longer be moderated purely by automated algorithms. Instead, any potential flagging or restriction will undergo multiple layers of review, involving senior policy and operations officials within the company. The move is designed to create a "ring-fenced" moderation protocol for top-tier accounts, minimizing the risk of inadvertent removals triggered by AI-powered automated filters.

Government Rejects 'Technical Glitch' Explanation

The development follows sharp pushback from the Centre after a video uploaded by Prime Minister Modi was briefly restricted on Facebook. Meta had initially attributed the incident to an automated technical glitch, issuing an apology and restoring the content shortly afterward.

However, IT Ministry officials rejected the explanation, terming it "inadequate" and "not reasonable". IT Secretary S. Krishnan noted in an official statement that the removal of authorized content from the Prime Minister’s verified handle was "extremely disturbing" and required deeper technical scrutiny to ensure such errors are not repeated. The controversy stems from a selfie video message posted by Prime Minister Modi on July 23, in which he addressed the nation's youth regarding strict government measures and upcoming legislative steps to combat examination paper leaks. PM Narendra Modi's Facebook Video Restored After Meta Cites Technical Error.

Meta Promises Multi-Level Review for High-Profile Accounts

When the post became temporarily unavailable on Facebook due to an automated moderation flag, government officials summoned Meta’s global policy team for clarification. The IT Ministry emphasized that social media platforms operating in India must maintain strict accountability, particularly when managing content from verified public officials and sensitive national announcements.

Upcoming MeitY–Meta Technical Meeting

A delegation of senior Meta representatives is scheduled to meet with IT Ministry officials later this week or early next week. The meeting is expected to focus on the technical details of the automated moderation pipeline, platform compliance under the IT Rules 2021, and the operational framework for synthetic content moderation. Neither Meta nor the Ministry of Electronics and IT has issued an official statement regarding the exact schedule of the upcoming meeting.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 29, 2026 09:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).