New Delhi: A Parliamentary standing committee has raised concerns over the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech from Facebook and demanded an apology from Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg over the incident.
The committee, in a communication sent to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), said the removal of the Prime Minister’s video was viewed seriously and sought clarification from the social media platform. The panel warned that legal protections and immunity available to Zuckerberg could be reconsidered if an apology was not issued within three days.
The video, featuring Prime Minister Modi’s address to students and Gen Z on examination related concerns and measures against paper leaks, was reportedly unavailable on Facebook for nearly five to six hours before being restored.
A letter issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat stated that the committee considered the action against the video a matter of concern and sought details regarding the circumstances that led to its removal. The panel is examining whether such decisions by major digital platforms require stronger accountability mechanisms.
The committee has also raised concerns over alleged online fraud cases involving investment applications promoted through digital platforms. It sought government action against Google India following allegations that investors lost more than Rs 48 lakh after using fraudulent apps.
During discussions on a Hyderabad Cyber Police investigation, the panel noted complaints from victims who claimed financial losses through scam applications and urged authorities to examine the responsibility of technology platforms in preventing misuse of their services.
The developments highlight growing parliamentary scrutiny of global technology companies operating in India, with lawmakers emphasising greater transparency, user protection and accountability from digital platforms.
