IT Ministry Calls Meta to Account Following Brief Removal of Modi’s Video

The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has summoned Meta’s global head of public policy following an incident where a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi was temporarily removed from Facebook. The action has sparked discussions around social media governance and accountability, particularly in light of the video’s sensitive content related to public grievances.

According to reports from ANI, the ministry’s Secretary, S. Krishnan, stated that Meta attributed the video’s removal to a ‘technical error.’ However, he emphasized that the explanation was not entirely satisfactory, considering the significance of the content in question. The video, which was uploaded late at night on Thursday, addressed the ongoing protests among youth regarding irregularities in competitive examination processes, assuring strict measures against paper leaks.

On Tuesday morning, users in India attempting to access the video were greeted with a notification indicating that the content was not available in their region due to a legal request. This led to widespread confusion and concern, particularly among the youth who are actively engaged in the matter highlighted in Modi’s address. An unidentified spokesperson from Meta later confirmed to PTI that the content was removed by mistake and has since been restored.

Secretary Krishnan expressed his discontent with the removal of authorized content, labeling it as ‘extremely disturbing.’ He stated that such incidents must not occur again and pointed out that while Meta’s apology was a step in the right direction, it did not adequately address the issue. He called for more transparency and systemic changes to prevent future occurrences of similar errors, highlighting the need for social media platforms to prioritize responsible content moderation.

This incident comes in the wake of increased scrutiny of social media companies, particularly regarding their role in disseminating information and addressing concerns that resonate with the Indian public. The Delhi government has recently issued directives aimed at improving accountability among social media platforms, emphasizing the importance of correct content management in a nation where digital communication plays a critical role in engaging with the youth and addressing their issues.

Source: scroll.in