Parliamentary IT panel to Meta: Apologise for PM Modi video removal in 3 days or lose safe harbour
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has issued a three-day ultimatum to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, demanding an apology for the removal of a video message by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Facebook. The committee has warned that failure to comply could lead to the withdrawal of 'safe harbour' protections — legal provisions that shield online platforms from liability for user-generated content.
The demand was conveyed in a letter from the Lok Sabha Secretariat to IT Secretary S. Krishnan, with a copy to Home Secretary Govind Mohan. The committee, chaired by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey, has sought the revocation of safe harbour immunity for Instagram and other Meta platforms following the erroneous blocking of PM Modi's video on July 23, amid youth protests at Jantar Mantar and other parts of the country.
In the letter, the committee wrote: "During the deliberations, the Committee demanded an apology from Mr. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta Chief on this issue. If he fails to tender an unqualified apology within 3 days of receipt of this letter, the protection/immunity given under Section 79(3) of IT Act may be withdrawn and action taken against him as a Publisher."
The committee also cited a BBC investigation that reported advertisements containing child sex abuse material (CSAM) on Instagram. It demanded action against intermediary platforms that carry CSAM and degrading content against women. Separately, the panel requested that Google India's safe harbour protections be lifted, citing cyber crime complaints in Hyderabad where individuals lost over ₹48 lakh due to frauds linked to apps downloaded from the Google Play store.
Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 states that an intermediary shall not be liable for any third-party information, data, or communication link made available or hosted by it, subject to certain conditions. The IT Rules, 2021, have further expanded these conditions, including requirements to remove content upon notice from law enforcement agencies or designated government officers.
The committee's letter follows a hearing on August 3, 2026, where representatives of Meta, Google, and X (formerly Twitter) appeared before the panel. During the session, Opposition members pushed back against the ruling party's line of questioning, arguing that content moderation on social media platforms should not be influenced by political considerations.
Legal experts, however, have questioned whether the government can unilaterally revoke safe harbour protections. Ravi Goyal, founder of law firm Scriboard, told The Hindu that there is no express legal provision in the current framework allowing the government to directly remove or revoke the protection under Section 79. He added that the safe harbour is not a blanket immunity but applies to specific content or instances. "Even if an intermediary is found not to be entitled to such protection in respect of a particular piece of content, it could still continue to avail the protection for its services, subject to compliance with law. Such actions are determined on a case-to-case basis by a court of law," he said.
The development underscores the ongoing friction between the government and major technology companies over the regulation of online content. The safe harbour provision, long considered a cornerstone of the internet's open architecture, has come under increased scrutiny as authorities seek more accountability from platforms. The committee's demand, if acted upon, could set a precedent for how other intermediaries are treated under Indian law.
Meta and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology did not immediately respond to queries. Google declined to comment.
