Meta apologised for the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), deepfake content and operational shortcomings on its platforms during high-level consultations with the Centre, according to government sources. The discussions also saw Indian officials question the company's claim to intermediary protections under the Information Technology Act, citing the role of its algorithms in determining how content is distributed.
The two-day meeting between officials of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Meta's global leadership focused on platform accountability, content moderation and compliance with Indian laws amid increasing regulatory scrutiny of social media platforms.
Centre raises child safety and platform accountability concerns
According to government sources cited by India Today, officials strongly raised concerns over the presence of CSAM and deepfake content across Meta's platforms.
Sources said the company was told social media platforms have a responsibility to ensure children's safety and cannot simultaneously generate advertising revenue from harmful content while seeking legal protection under safe harbour provisions.
Government sources further claimed Meta acknowledged shortcomings in its content moderation practices and expressed regret over the handling of harmful content on its platforms. Officials from the company are expected to continue discussions with the government.
Safe harbour protections come under scrutiny
A key issue during the discussions was the applicability of Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, which grants intermediaries protection from liability for third-party content, subject to compliance with legal obligations.
According to government sources, officials suggested Meta's algorithms actively determine which users receive content and therefore questioned whether the company qualifies for intermediary protection in the manner it claims.
Government sources said officials conveyed to Meta that:
- Platforms selecting and amplifying content through algorithms raise questions over intermediary status.
- Safe harbour protections should not automatically apply where platforms actively determine content distribution.
- Child safety responsibilities remain a core expectation regardless of business models.
No official government order changing Meta's intermediary status was announced during the meeting.
Government also questioned content amplification
According to government sources, discussions extended beyond harmful content to Meta's business practices.
Sources claimed the company admitted spending significant amounts to promote certain categories of content and expressed regret over those decisions.
The discussions formed part of broader conversations around platform accountability, recommendation algorithms and responsible content moderation.
PM Modi video was discussed separately
Government sources told India Today that the apology over CSAM and content moderation was separate from discussions regarding the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook video. They said the issue was not raised during the consultation in which the apology was made.
However, the broader controversy surrounding the video continued elsewhere.
Earlier this week, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology Chairman Nishikant Dubey said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg should personally apologise for the temporary removal of the Prime Minister's video from Facebook. According to Dubey, Meta acknowledged the video remained unavailable for around five hours.
Separately, government sources said another meeting with Meta executives focused on concerns over the removal of the Prime Minister's Gen Z outreach video, alleged non-compliance with government directives and the continued presence of inappropriate content on the company's platforms.
Regulatory scrutiny of digital platforms continues to intensify
The discussions reflect the government's increasing focus on how large technology platforms moderate harmful content, deploy recommendation algorithms and comply with Indian regulations.
Issues including child safety, AI-generated deepfakes, platform accountability and intermediary liability are becoming central to regulatory conversations as governments worldwide reassess the responsibilities of social media companies.
The outcome of the ongoing consultations could shape future discussions on platform governance, content moderation standards and the legal responsibilities of technology companies operating in India.