PM Narendra Modi’s Facebook Post Row: Parliamentary Panel Issues 3-Day Ultimatum to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has issued a three-day ultimatum to Meta, demanding a personal apology from CEO Mark Zuckerberg following the temporary takedown of a video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has given Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg three days to issue a personal apology over the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video from Facebook. The panel also warned that failure to comply could lead to a recommendation for the government to reconsider Meta's "safe harbour" protection under Indian law, according to a report.
Parliamentary Panel Seeks Personal Apology From Mark Zuckerberg
The committee, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, described the temporary removal of the Prime Minister's video as an "attack on democracy" and said the matter warranted accountability at the highest level. Members of the panel asked Zuckerberg to apologise personally and directed Meta to identify those responsible for the incident and take appropriate action against them. PM Narendra Modi’s Facebook Post Row: Govt Seeks Detailed Explanation From Meta Over Temporary Restriction.
According to the committee, the video featured Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address on the alleged NEET paper leak and was taken down from Facebook for several hours before being restored. The panel questioned how content posted by the country's elected Prime Minister could be removed without adequate review.
Safe Harbour Warning
The committee warned that if Meta fails to respond within the stipulated three-day period, it may recommend that the Government of India review the company's safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act. Safe harbour provisions generally protect intermediaries such as social media platforms from liability for third-party content, provided they comply with applicable legal requirements. The warning marks a significant escalation in the government's scrutiny of Meta's content moderation practices and platform accountability. PM Narendra Modi's Facebook Video Restored After Meta Cites Technical Error.
Meta Had Earlier Expressed Regret
During an earlier meeting with the parliamentary panel, Meta representatives reportedly expressed regret over the temporary removal of the video. However, members of the committee maintained that an apology from company executives was insufficient and insisted that Zuckerberg himself should issue a formal apology. As of Wednesday, Meta had not publicly responded to the committee's latest three-day ultimatum.
The controversy stems from the temporary removal of a Facebook video featuring Prime Minister Modi's address related to the alleged NEET examination paper leak. Although the video was later restored, the incident triggered questions over Meta's content moderation mechanisms and prompted the Parliamentary Standing Committee to summon company representatives for an explanation.
The latest development underscores the growing focus of Indian lawmakers on the accountability of global technology platforms, particularly in matters involving political content, public communication and compliance with India's digital regulations.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 05, 2026 11:53 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
