The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and IT has adopted a firm position regarding the removal of Prime Minister Modi’s video from Facebook, which addressed actions against examination paper leaks. During a meeting on August 3, committee members reportedly questioned Meta officials about the incident, which the company attributed to an error in their system.

Members of the committee expressed that the issue transcended a mere apology, emphasising the need for accountability from Meta. They are said to have insisted on legal actions aimed at the officials directly responsible for the video’s brief removal, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.

Details about the steps taken by Meta to manage controversial content on its platforms were also sought by various committee members. This indicates a growing concern regarding content regulation within social media and its implications for public discourse.

Overview of the Meeting’s Agenda

The meeting commenced with members gathering to hear perspectives from representatives of significant social and digital media platforms. The agenda focused on the regulation of these platforms, with the committee led by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, aiming to acquire a clearer understanding of current practices and policies.

Representatives from platforms such as Snapchat, Google, X (formerly Twitter), Meta, and YouTube were invited to brief the committee. The presence of senior officials including Home Secretary Govind Mohan further underscored the importance of the discussions taking place.

In the previous month, the committee had convened twice, reflecting on matters related to ‘Self Reliance in Telecom Manufacturing Sector’ and receiving insights from officials regarding the operations of the Prasar Bharati Organisation. This pattern demonstrates the committee’s broad focus on critical issues linked to communication technologies.

Background on the Removed Video

On July 28, Meta announced that the video featuring PM Modi had been taken down due to a technical error and was subsequently restored. This clarification followed a brief removal of the content in the early hours of that day, which garnered significant attention from lawmakers and the public alike.

The video, initially released on July 23, served as the Prime Minister’s first direct interaction with Generation Z amid the ongoing student agitation over irregularities during the NEET-UG 2026 examination. In this address, he assured students of the government’s commitment to enforcing stricter measures against examination fraud.

Following this, the Union Cabinet approved the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, which has since passed through both Houses of Parliament. This legislative move signifies the government’s proactive stance in addressing examination malpractices in the education sector.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has also pursued the matter, summoning Meta for clarification, with Secretary S Krishnan suggesting that the explanation provided regarding the technical error was inadequate. This scrutiny highlights the government’s involvement in regulating social media platforms and their impacts on important national issues.

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