Meta faces India panel warning over Modi video removal

An Indian parliamentary panel has called for Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg to apologise within three days after a video by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was temporarily removed from Facebook and Instagram.

The video, posted on July 23 during youth-led protests, was later restored. Meta has said the removal was caused by a technical error.

Nishikant Dubey, a lawmaker from Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party who heads the parliamentary committee on communications and information technology, said the panel blamed Meta. He said the committee had written to India's interior and technology ministries demanding action.

"Deleting the prime minister's video was not the work of an intermediary, but that of a publisher," Dubey said. He also said Zuckerberg would have to apologise within three days.

Dubey told reporters that if Zuckerberg did not apologise, safe harbour protections for Meta's social media platforms should end. Parliamentary standing committees can summon officials and company executives, but they cannot themselves impose penalties, revoke legal protections or direct prosecutions. Any action against an online platform would have to be taken by the government or courts under existing law.

Indian media reported that Meta officials had been summoned to explain the temporary takedown. Meta did not immediately respond to AFP questions.