Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg expressed apologies for child sex abuse material, deepfake content and platform operation errors, according to government sources. This followed a meeting on August 5, 2026, between Joel Kaplan, Meta’s global head of public policy, and officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Sources indicated Meta will face further meetings. The delegation also met Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Kaplan was asked to explain the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s July 23 video message to youth from Facebook, which the company called an error. The government sought a full account and personal apology from Zuckerberg. Kaplan stated he apologised to the minister on Meta’s behalf for restricting the post. The meetings addressed concerns over Instagram amplifying protests at Jantar Mantar and the Modi post removal. Officials noted Meta is not covered under the intermediary definition, making it potentially liable for user posts. They also criticised advertisements on Instagram promoting child sex abuse material. Sources said Meta selects content recipients, rendering safe harbour under the IT Act inapplicable. The company admitted paying to boost certain content and regretted promoting illegal material to specific audiences. Earlier, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, led by Nishikant Dubey, demanded withdrawal of Google India’s safe harbour protection. The letter cited cybercrime complaints in Hyderabad involving over 48 lakh rupees lost via apps from Google Play. Similar demands were made for Meta after the Modi video incident and reports of child sex abuse material ads. The letter went to IT Secretary S. Krishnan and Home Secretary Govind Mohan. The committee sought an unqualified apology from Zuckerberg within three days or action as a publisher under Section 79 of the IT Act. Legal experts noted safe harbour applies case by case and cannot be directly revoked by government without court involvement.
