PM Modi Facebook Post Row: Centre to Meet Meta Over AI Content, Fake News And Algorithms

New Delhi: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology officials will meet Meta's team later this week to review the progress made by the social media giant after multiple rounds of discussions on critical issues, including the reappearance of fake and harmful content even after removal and efforts to curb child sexual abuse material (CSAM), top government sources said.

The development comes after the government held a series of meetings with Meta’s team last week following the temporary restriction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook post. Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg had also apologised to the Government of India after the controversy surrounding PM Modi’s video.

Centre Reviews Meta’s Content Moderation Actions

It may be recalled that last week, government officials held three consecutive meetings with the Meta team to discuss concerns related to content moderation, platform accountability and compliance with Indian laws.

Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw personally questioned Meta’s global team on content recommendation algorithms and the company’s approach towards enforcing Indian regulations.

Government Raises Concerns Over Fake Content And AI Material

A technical session held on Friday saw the company outline plans to tackle deepfakes, CSAM, unlabelled synthetic content and bot accounts.

Important concerns raised during the discussions included the continued circulation and rapid spread of AI-generated harmful material despite being flagged, as well as the visibility of unlabelled synthetic videos in violation of IT rules requiring clear identification.

Push For Better Human Oversight In Moderation

Government officials also pressed for greater human oversight in Meta’s content moderation system, along with improved understanding of Indian languages and cultural nuances.

The Centre highlighted the need for stronger monitoring mechanisms to deal with harmful content in India’s diverse digital environment.

Questions Over Meta’s Intermediary Status

The discussions have sharpened focus on a fundamental question — whether Meta’s recommendation systems and paid content promotion practices remain compatible with its status as an intermediary under the Information Technology Act.

The government is examining whether platform algorithms and promotional systems are contributing to the wider circulation of harmful or misleading content and whether additional safeguards are required.