Meta has apologised to the Indian government after briefly restricting a Facebook video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing the incident as an error caused by its content moderation system. The apology came during a meeting between Meta's global leadership and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi.

Joel Kaplan, Meta's Chief Global Affairs Officer, said he apologised on behalf of the company for the mistake that led to the temporary restriction of the Prime Minister's Facebook post. Government sources also indicated that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed regret over the incident and acknowledged the company's responsibility.

Video Was Restored After AI Moderation Error

The controversy began after Prime Minister Modi's Facebook video, originally posted on July 23, was temporarily removed from the platform. In the video, the Prime Minister addressed students and assured strict action against those involved in examination paper leaks.

Meta later restored the video, explaining that the restriction resulted from an AI-driven technical error. However, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) reportedly found the explanation insufficient and asked the company to strengthen its automated moderation systems to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Government Raises Concerns Over Platform Accountability

During discussions with Meta representatives, government officials reportedly raised broader concerns regarding the company's content moderation practices. According to official sources, it was made clear that digital platforms cannot avoid responsibility when they actively determine how content is distributed and promoted.

Officials also questioned Meta over the promotion of illegal and harmful material, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and manipulated deepfake content. Sources said Meta acknowledged shortcomings in its enforcement systems and expressed regret over errors related to content moderation and paid promotions.

Government representatives reportedly stated that the company must improve oversight mechanisms to ensure harmful or illegal content is detected and removed more effectively.

Read more: PM Modi Reaffirms Strict Action Against NEET Paper Leak Accused, Calls for Stronger Exam Security

Parliamentary Panel Also Demanded an Apology

The issue also attracted attention from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, which demanded an explanation and apology from Meta over the temporary removal of the Prime Minister's video.

The committee raised concerns about the moderation of content published by constitutional authorities and sought assurances that similar incidents would not occur again.

Meta Promises Stronger Review Process

Following the discussions, Meta informed the government that posts published by the Prime Minister and other prominent verified public figures would receive additional oversight before moderation decisions are implemented.

The company said multiple levels of review involving senior officials would be introduced for such accounts to reduce the possibility of automated errors affecting high-profile public communications.

The incident has renewed debate over the balance between artificial intelligence-driven moderation and human oversight on major social media platforms. It has also highlighted increasing regulatory scrutiny of global technology companies operating in India, particularly regarding platform accountability, online safety and compliance with Indian digital regulations.