The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has directed Meta to revise its algorithms and deliver a compliance plan to limit deepfakes, altered media, propaganda and other prohibited material on its services, according to government sources cited by ANI.
The instructions came during a Friday meeting between ministry staff and Meta’s technical team, reflecting increased official review of the company’s content oversight methods.
The government requested targeted algorithm updates to enhance detection and removal of harmful or altered material. It also called for stronger moderation tools and quicker responses to removal orders from authorised agencies.
MeitY further sought improved coordination with Meta to identify and delete deepfakes, altered images and misleading posts more rapidly. The company was reminded to follow India’s data storage rules as part of broader efforts to meet legal obligations.
Meta described its current detection systems during the meeting, but officials requested more specific adjustments to reduce the spread of propaganda, deepfakes and manipulated content. The company noted shortcomings in existing tools and outlined possible technical fixes.
Discussions are set to continue, with another session planned for next week.
The move follows rising official concerns over deepfakes, child sexual abuse material and other harmful content on Meta platforms. Meta’s chief executive had previously apologised to Indian officials regarding errors involving such material.
The company also faced questions after temporarily limiting a post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which it attributed to a technical issue.
The engagement follows recent updates to India’s IT rules that added requirements for platforms handling AI-generated or manipulated content, including better identification and labelling of synthetic material.
Authorities have stated that social media firms must adhere to Indian laws and protect users from illegal content.
