Meta Tightens VIP Account Protocols After Modi Video Removal Row
New Delhi: In the wake of the temporary removal of a video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Facebook, Meta has introduced new protocols for handling accounts of high-profile individuals. The social media giant communicated these changes to the Indian government, stating that additional safeguards have been implemented since July 28, according to Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S. Krishnan.
Addressing reporters on the sidelines of a CII event on Thursday, Krishnan confirmed that a meeting between Meta's global officials and the government is scheduled within the next 7 to 10 days. The discussions are expected to cover both policy and technical aspects of the incident, as well as Meta's response to concerns raised by the government.
Krishnan said Meta has written to the government expressing regret over the episode and outlining its understanding of the reasons behind the video's removal. “The company has expressed regret, and we will be meeting their global officials in the next 7-10 days,” he stated, adding that the government is continuing to examine Meta’s explanation.
The development follows the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) summoning senior Meta executives after the Prime Minister’s Facebook post was briefly removed. Government officials had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s explanation that the takedown was caused by an automated error, indicating that the matter was ‘far from settled’.
The video, uploaded on July 23 during protests led by the Central Judicial Panel over alleged examination paper leaks, was later restored. Meta apologized on July 28, stating that the content had been “removed in error” and that it was not the result of any government directive or content policy action.
In a related matter, Krishnan said the government is also examining representations submitted by messaging platforms regarding the proposed introduction of usernames. MeitY had recently sought responses from companies on this issue.
The incident has reignited discussions on content moderation policies and the handling of accounts of public figures. Meta’s new protocols aim to prevent similar errors and ensure that automated systems do not inadvertently affect content posted by high-profile users.
