Meta Issues Apology After Mistakenly Censoring PM Modi Video Addressing Students
The Union Government demanded answers after an automated moderation tool incorrectly flagged a video by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meta attributed the removal to a technical error regarding AI-generated content filters.
Technical Glitch Triggers Removal of Prime Ministerial Address
Meta has issued a formal apology to the Indian government following the erroneous removal of a video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 23. The footage, intended to reassure students regarding firm administrative action against NEET examination paper leaks, was briefly inaccessible within India. While users abroad could still view the content, those in India were met with an automated alert citing a legal request for its removal.
According to sources familiar with the incident, the removal was not a manual intervention but a failure of an automated moderation system. This specific tool, designed to detect and filter AI-generated content, mistakenly flagged the Prime Minister's address. A spokesperson for Meta confirmed that the content was taken down in error and has since been restored to the platform.
Government Demands Accountability Amid Regulatory Tension
The Union Government has since requested a formal explanation and summoned a senior executive from Meta’s policy and government relations department. This meeting aims to address the mistake and review the platform's adherence to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The incident highlights a shifting relationship between Big Tech and New Delhi, as India remains one of the few nations where government take-down requests are processed through automated workflows.
Persistent Friction Between New Delhi and Meta
This automated error coincides with several points of contention between the IT Ministry and the social media giant. Recent disputes include:
- Concerns over WhatsApp’s proposed username feature, which officials warn might facilitate impersonation.
- Recent investigations into child sexual abuse material (CSAM) appearing in advertisements on Instagram.
- Ongoing comparisons to X, which frequently challenges take-down notices issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act to avoid legal liability.
The government's scrutiny of Meta intensified after these incidents, making the accidental flagging of the Prime Minister's video a particularly sensitive occurrence in the current regulatory environment.
Source: The Hindu — National
