Parliamentary Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Accountability Beyond Apology

Meta found itself under intense scrutiny on Monday as members of Parliament's Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology demanded accountability over the brief removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook video on action against examination paper leaks.

According to sources, Meta officials apologised before the panel, saying the video had been taken down due to a technical error. But committee members reportedly made it clear that the issue had gone beyond an apology.

Several MPs are learnt to have asked who within the company was responsible for the incident and what action had been taken to fix accountability. Some members also reportedly sought legal action against the Meta officials responsible for the brief takedown.

The panel is also understood to have questioned the company on how it deals with controversial and objectionable content across its platforms, seeking greater transparency over its content moderation processes.

The meeting, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, was convened to examine the regulation of social and digital media platforms. Representatives from Meta, Google, X, Snapchat and YouTube appeared before the committee, while Home Secretary Govind Mohan was also present.

The controversy stems from the temporary removal of Prime Minister Modi's Facebook video, released on July 23, in which he addressed students during the NEET-UG 2026 examination row and promised tougher action against paper leaks.

Meta had restored the video shortly afterwards, stating that it had been removed due to a technical error.

"The content was removed in error and has since been restored," the company had said.

The explanation, however, has failed to satisfy the government.

Earlier, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) summoned Meta over the incident, with Secretary S. Krishnan stating that the company's explanation of a "technical error" did not appear to be fully acceptable.

The Prime Minister's address was followed by the Centre approving and Parliament subsequently passing the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, which introduces tougher penalties for examination paper leaks.

(With inputs from ANI)