Meta to appear before govt to explain policy, technical issues within 7-10 days
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
Meta has agreed to appear before the Indian government to explain policy and technical issues after a glitch led to the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook video on exam paper leaks. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is examining the matter and has sought views from several messaging platforms.
Background
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, faced scrutiny after a technical error caused the brief removal of PM Modi's video. The government is also examining the issue of WhatsApp usernames and has asked Meta to send senior representatives to clarify the circumstances.
Key facts
Meta will appear before the government within 7-10 days to explain policy and technical issues.
MeitY Secretary S Krishnan said the government is examining the matter and has sought views from several messaging platforms.
Meta expressed regret over the incident and shared its understanding of the reasons behind it.
Meta informed the government that it established new protocols on July 28 concerning accounts of prominent persons to prevent recurrence.
The government has asked Meta to send its senior-most representatives to provide clarity at both policy and technical levels.
The incident involved the temporary removal of PM Modi's Facebook video on action against examination paper leaks due to a technical error.
The government is also examining the WhatsApp username issue and has sought views from platforms.
Prelims pointers
- MeitY: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
- Meta: Parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram
- July 28, 2026: Date when Meta established new protocols for prominent accounts
Mains angles
- Discuss the role of government in regulating social media platforms and ensuring accountability.
- Examine the challenges of content moderation and technical errors on digital platforms.
- Analyze the balance between free speech and platform responsibility in the context of high-profile accounts.