According to sources, Meta officials faced backlash at a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Electronics and Information Technology after BJP members questioned the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s video from Facebook.
Reports revealed a senior BJP MP asked Meta representatives why the Prime Minister’s video had been taken down, who authorised the decision and why the platform acted against it while allegedly allowing other objectionable content to remain online. He also sought answers on the accountability for the takedown and whether Meta had identified the individuals involved.
Sources in the know mentioned that the company representatives expressed regret over the incident and offered to issue an apology. A BJP member, however, told them that an apology alone would not be sufficient.
“The committee is seeking accountability. Those responsible for the decision should be identified, and appropriate legal action should follow,” the MP said, according to sources.
The centre last week summoned Meta officials to explain why the Prime Minister’s video had briefly been restricted on Facebook.
“We have asked Meta to come in at the highest level and explain what is happening,” S Krishnan, Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said on Thursday.
The controversy erupted after a video message by the Prime Minister, first posted on Instagram and later shared on Facebook, was temporarily restricted on the latter platform before being restored.
Meta apologised and said the content had been removed inadvertently.