The government has ramped up its examination of Meta’s operations following high-level discussions between senior officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the company’s global leadership. This escalation comes after controversy surrounding the provisional removal of a Facebook video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and concerns regarding harmful content across Meta’s platforms.

Discussions reportedly centred on several critical topics, including platform accountability and compliance with Indian laws. Officials expressed that all platforms functioning in India are expected to adhere to local regulations and uphold societal responsibilities akin to other institutions.

Officials stated, “Platforms cannot be run in India as per US law,” underlining the importance of understanding the technical nuances involved. The government aims to utilise legal frameworks for the benefit of society while emphasising that it is not considering establishing a separate regulator for social media entities.

Focus on Content Moderation and Public Trust

During the meeting, which was attended by Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw and other senior MeitY officials, the government underscored the significance of maintaining public trust in digital platforms. There was a particular focus on the emerging technology of deepfakes and its implications for content moderation.

Meta’s delegation, led by Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan, acknowledged the incident regarding the Prime Minister’s video and reiterated the company’s apology, characterising the removal as an inadvertent technical error. Discussions also encompassed content moderation practices, algorithmic systems, and internal safeguards employed by Meta, Facebook, and Instagram.

The government continues regular engagement with other major platforms, including X and Telegram, to address these pressing issues in the digital media landscape.

Proposed Amendments to IT Rules Targeting AI-Generated Content

Alongside its discussions with Meta, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has introduced proposed amendments to the Information Technology (IT) Rules. These amendments aim to tackle challenges posed by AI-generated misinformation and deepfakes, highlighting the need for swift action against harmful content.

The proposed regulations would require platforms to eliminate unlawful AI-generated content within three hours upon receiving a valid government or court order, a significant reduction from the current 36-hour timeframe. Furthermore, the rules stipulate that AI-generated content must be clearly labelled to enhance transparency for users.

Additional measures include expedited grievance redressal processes and stricter penalties for deepfakes, impersonation, and other forms of problematic synthetic media. These amendments have been released for public consultation, and the government plans to consider stakeholder feedback before finalising the regulations.

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