Meta apologises to India over restricted PM Modi post, technical error cited

Meta has formally apologised to the Indian government after a post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was temporarily restricted on its platforms. The company described the incident as a technical error, not a deliberate act or a policy decision.

Government sources said Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's chief executive, conveyed the apology during a meeting with the Union IT minister. The apology was accepted, but the episode has reignited questions about how the tech giant moderates content in one of its largest markets.

What happened with PM Modi's post

The post, published by the Prime Minister's office, was briefly unavailable to some users before being restored. Meta did not specify which platform was affected or how long the restriction lasted.

In its communication to Indian officials, the company said the issue arose from an automated moderation system that flagged the content incorrectly. It assured the government that such errors were rare and that corrective measures were already in place.

Officials familiar with the matter said Meta's apology was conveyed directly to the minister, who stressed the need for greater accountability. The government has not yet made public any written commitment from Meta on preventing similar incidents.

Meta admits to paid content boosting

Beyond the Modi post, Meta also acknowledged that it receives money to boost certain types of content on its platforms. The admission came during the same discussions, according to sources present at the meeting.

The company did not provide details on the scale or recipients of such payments. However, the disclosure has raised concerns about transparency in how content is prioritised, especially ahead of state elections in India.

Meta said the practice is part of its advertising and promotional tools, which are standard across the industry. Yet, critics argue that the line between paid promotion and organic reach is often blurred, particularly for political content.

Zuckerberg's separate apology on deepfakes and CSAM

In a separate exchange, Mark Zuckerberg apologised for the presence of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and deepfake content on Meta's platforms. The apology came after Meta officials met the IT minister to discuss online safety.

Zuckerberg acknowledged that the company had not done enough to curb the spread of such harmful content. He reportedly assured Indian authorities that new tools and stricter enforcement would be deployed in the coming months.

India has been pushing tech companies to act more decisively on deepfakes, which have been used to spread misinformation and target public figures. The government has warned that platforms failing to comply with existing IT rules could face penalties.

Meta's dual apology—on the Modi post and on harmful content—marks a rare public admission of fault by the company in India. It also signals the growing pressure on global platforms to align with local regulations and political sensitivities.

The government has not indicated whether it will take further action against Meta. However, the IT ministry is expected to release a detailed statement on the meeting soon, and industry watchers will be looking for any changes to India's intermediary guidelines.