Meta summoned over removal of PM Modi's Facebook post in India

• The IT Ministry has summoned Meta's Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan, and Instagram head to explain why PM Modi's Facebook post was removed.
• The incident highlights the government's growing scrutiny of tech giants operating in India.
• The removal of PM Modi's post is being treated as a serious compliance lapse under India's IT Rules.
• The episode has reopened questions about the accountability of large platforms under India's IT Rules.
• Lawyers advising clients on social media compliance should review their content moderation policies in light of this precedent.

The ministry's decision to summon Meta's Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan, rather than a domestic compliance officer suggests that they want answers at a level where platform-wide decisions are made.

The recent removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook post has sparked a heated debate about social media regulation in India. The IT Ministry has summoned Meta's Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan, along with the company's Instagram head, to explain why the post was taken down. This move is significant, as it highlights the government's growing scrutiny of tech giants operating in the country.

The incident began on July 23, when PM Modi posted a video addressing students protesting against paper leaks. However, the post vanished from Facebook soon after, prompting the ministry to seek an explanation. Meta has since restored the content and issued a statement acknowledging the error.

The IT Rules governing social media platforms are designed to ensure that they act with due diligence and maintain grievance redressal mechanisms. However, the removal of PM Modi's post has raised questions about the accountability of large platforms under these rules. The government is treating this incident as a serious compliance lapse, which could have far-reaching implications for tech companies operating in India.

The ministry's decision to summon Meta's Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan, rather than a domestic compliance officer suggests that they want answers at a level where platform-wide decisions are made. This move underscores the government's desire to ensure that social media platforms are transparent and accountable in their content moderation practices.

The recent episode has reopened questions about the accountability of large platforms under India's IT Rules. It highlights the importance of having adequate grievance redressal mechanisms in place, as required by law. Lawyers advising clients on social media compliance should take note of this precedent and consider reviewing their own content moderation policies.

The ministry has not yet indicated whether it plans to formally record statements from the executives or simply seek a written explanation. However, one thing is clear: the Indian government is taking a closer look at how tech companies handle content posted by the government that regulates them.

This development highlights the importance for Indian companies and platforms to ensure they have adequate grievance redressal mechanisms in place, as required under the IT Rules. Lawyers advising clients on social media compliance should watch for this precedent and consider reviewing their own content moderation policies.

Source: Original reporting via The Hindu