The temporary removal of a video featuring Prime Minister *Narendra Modi* from a social media platform has triggered political and parliamentary scrutiny. The *Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology has termed the incident serious and asked Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to issue an unconditional apology within three days.
According to the committee, the video, which featured the Prime Minister addressing students and members of Gen Z, remained unavailable on Facebook for several hours. The panel believes the incident raises important questions about content moderation practices and the accountability of major digital platforms operating in India.
Committee Chairman Nishikant Dubey wrote to Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S. Krishnan, stating that if an unconditional apology is not issued within the stipulated period, the government should consider reviewing or withdrawing the company's safe harbour protection under the Information Technology framework.
The committee also expressed concern over allegations that certain social media platforms fail to effectively address unlawful content involving women and children while facing criticism over the handling of politically sensitive content. It emphasized that all digital intermediaries must comply with Indian laws and regulations.
The panel recommended that companies failing to follow legal obligations should not continue enjoying legal protections available to online intermediaries. It stressed that digital platforms must balance freedom of expression with their responsibility to enforce the law.
In a separate matter, the committee also urged the Government of India to take appropriate action regarding proceedings initiated by Hyderabad Police against the head of *Google India* in connection with a cyber fraud investigation.
The matter is now expected to draw further attention as stakeholders await Meta's response and any subsequent action based on the committee's recommendations.
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