BJP MP Nishikant Dubey demanded a personal apology from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg after the company briefly removed a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi [1].
The dispute highlights the growing tension between the Indian government and global tech platforms over content moderation and legal accountability. If Meta is found to be in non-compliance with local laws, it could face severe legal repercussions in one of its largest markets.
Dubey, who serves as the chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, raised the issue during committee proceedings [2]. He said the removal of the video was unjustified and sought direct accountability from the top executive of the social media giant [3].
Meta said the video was removed due to an error [4]. Despite this explanation, Dubey said the company's actions could jeopardize its legal standing under Indian law. Specifically, he noted that Meta could lose its Section 79 safe-harbour protection under the IT Act [5].
Safe-harbour provisions generally protect intermediaries from being held legally responsible for content posted by third-party users. The loss of such protection would make the platform more vulnerable to lawsuits, and criminal liability, for the content hosted on its servers [5].
The incident and the subsequent parliamentary response were reported on Aug. 3, 2024 [1]. The demand for an apology reflects a broader push by Indian lawmakers to ensure that international platforms adhere strictly to domestic guidelines, and respect the digital presence of national leaders [3].
“Zuckerberg must apologise over PM Modi video removal”
This confrontation signals a shift in how India manages big tech, moving from a model of passive cooperation to one of strict legal enforcement. By threatening the loss of safe-harbour protection, the Indian government is leveraging the IT Act to compel platforms to prioritize local political sensitivities and administrative demands over their own global moderation policies.
