New Delhi, August 7, 2026: Meta has come under intense scrutiny in India after its Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan, acknowledged issues surrounding the temporary blocking of a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and addressed broader concerns over content moderation on the company's platforms.
During a meeting with Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, Kaplan reportedly apologized for the incident involving the blocked video. He also discussed Meta's efforts to improve enforcement against harmful content, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfakes, and other forms of illegal content. Kaplan further admitted that the company had, at times, promoted certain categories of content through its recommendation systems and said Meta was working to strengthen its moderation practices.
The controversy has intensified after a Parliamentary Standing Committee reportedly sought a personal apology from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg within three days. According to reports, members of the panel warned that continued non-compliance with Indian laws could lead to a review of the company's safe harbour protections, which currently provide online platforms with limited liability for user-generated content, subject to legal compliance.
At the same time, several users across India have reported unexpected restrictions on their Instagram and Facebook accounts. Among those claiming their content was limited or blocked are Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, several public figures, and satirical content creators. Many users have alleged reduced visibility of posts, temporary account restrictions, and unexplained moderation actions.
Government sources have reportedly expressed concern that Meta's platforms have been used to promote or amplify certain illegal or prohibited content through paid promotions, prompting increased regulatory attention. Officials have emphasized that digital platforms operating in India are expected to comply with applicable laws and act swiftly against unlawful material.
Critics of the recent moderation measures, however, argue that the restrictions risk curbing legitimate expression and have described the actions as a form of censorship. Digital rights advocates have called for greater transparency from Meta regarding how content is moderated, how recommendation systems operate, and the reasons behind account restrictions.
The developments come amid growing global pressure on large technology companies to balance freedom of expression with user safety and legal compliance. As India's digital ecosystem continues to expand, the government's engagement with social media platforms is expected to remain a key policy issue.
Meta has not announced any broader changes to its moderation policies in India following the meeting, but the company is expected to continue discussions with Indian authorities as regulatory scrutiny increases.
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