3 weeks ago
India questions Meta on compliance after Modi post restriction row
Meta is a very big technology company that owns Facebook.
The government of India asked leaders from Meta to come and talk to them.
This happened because Meta briefly removed a post made by India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
Meta said it was sorry for making that mistake.
Meta also said sorry for other problems, like not removing bad videos quickly enough and making some content more popular when it was paid.
The Indian government wants to make sure Meta follows all of India's laws.
It is also asking about Meta's computer programs, called algorithms, to check if they are fair and safe.
Meta has promised to work harder to stop harmful videos, including videos that hurt children and fake videos made with computer tricks.
The meetings will last for three to four days.
The Indian government is questioning Meta's visiting team on whether the company follows the law of the land, after summoning the social media giant over the temporary restriction of PM Narendra Modi's Facebook post.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw met Meta's global team on Thursday, with the ministry's discussions with technical teams expected to continue for three to four days.
Meta apologised for the temporary removal of Modi's post and for failures ranging from child sexual abuse content to deepfakes and boosting certain content on being paid 'a lot of money'.
Meta's global affairs head Joel Kaplan said he apologised to the minister on behalf of Meta for the error, but government sources said the apology came from CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The government will question Meta on its algorithms and whether its compliance mechanism has sufficient checks and balances and guardrails to meet constitutional and legal requirements.
- Who
- The Indian government, led by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Meta's visiting global team, including global affairs head Joel Kaplan.
- What
- Questioning whether Meta follows Indian law, its algorithms, and its compliance measures, following a summons over the temporary restriction of PM Narendra Modi's Facebook post.
- Where
- India, where Meta's team, flown in from the US, is meeting government officials.
- When
- Thursday, with the ministry's discussions with technical teams expected to continue for three to four days.
- Why
- Because Meta temporarily restricted PM Modi's Facebook post and apologised for failures including child sexual abuse content, deepfakes, and boosting content when paid.
Key facts
- Event
- Indian government questions Meta on legal compliance
- Trigger
- Temporary restriction of PM Narendra Modi's Facebook post
- Government official
- IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
- Meta representative
- Global affairs head Joel Kaplan, who flew in from the US
- Expected meeting duration
- Three to four days
- Topics under scrutiny
- Algorithms, compliance checks and balances, constitutional and legal guardrails
- Meta's apology covers
- Modi post removal, child sexual abuse content, deepfakes, paid content boosting
- Discrepancy
- Meta says Kaplan apologised; government sources say the apology came from CEO Mark Zuckerberg
Quotes
Joel Kaplan
Meta’s global affairs head
“I apologize to the minister on behalf of Meta for the error restricting PM Modi's post”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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