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• A parliamentary panel in India has demanded a personal apology from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg over the removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video.
• The panel accused Meta of having a deliberate intent to destabilise the country, citing an earlier incident where Zuckerberg made comments about the 2024 elections.
• If Zuckerberg does not issue a personal apology, the safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the Indian IT Act may be withdrawn from Meta.

The panel has taken a clear position on the matter, stating that if Zuckerberg does not issue a personal apology, the safe harbour protection under Section 79 should be withdrawn from him.

A parliamentary panel in India has demanded a personal apology from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg over the company's removal of a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The video, which was removed for nearly five hours last month, sparked controversy after it emerged that Meta had itself admitted to taking down the content. According to reports, the panel's chairman, Nishikant Dubey, accused Meta of having a deliberate intent to destabilise the country, citing an earlier incident in January where Zuckerberg made comments about the 2024 elections that were widely seen as inaccurate. The panel has taken a clear position on the matter, stating that if Zuckerberg does not issue a personal apology, the safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the Indian IT Act should be withdrawn from Meta.

Section 79 of the Indian IT Act provides safe harbour protection to intermediaries such as social media platforms from legal liability for third-party content hosted on their sites. However, this protection can be withdrawn if the platform fails to comply with due diligence requirements under the law. A withdrawal of this protection would expose Meta to direct legal responsibility for user-posted content in India, which could have significant implications for the company's operations in one of its largest markets. The panel's demand for a personal apology from Zuckerberg is seen as a warning shot across the bow, highlighting the potential consequences of Meta's actions.

The controversy surrounding Meta's removal of Prime Minister Modi's video has raised questions about the company's content moderation practices and its compliance with Indian law. The panel's concerns are not limited to this incident, but also extend to broader issues such as the accessibility of material related to child sexual abuse and the sexual exploitation of women on the platform. As Meta continues to operate in India, it will need to navigate complex regulatory requirements and ensure that its content moderation practices align with local laws and standards.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware of the potential withdrawal of safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the Indian IT Act, which could expose Meta to direct legal responsibility for user-posted content in India. This may impact their content moderation strategies and risk assessments.

Source: Original reporting via Parliamentary Panel Flags Meta's 'Intent to Destabilise' Over PM Modi Video Takedown