**Title: Indian Lawmakers Demand Apology from Mark Zuckerberg Over Video Removal**
An Indian parliamentary panel has called for an apology from Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Meta, following the controversial removal of a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The video, which addressed the youth of India, was taken down last week, prompting significant backlash against the social media company.
Nishikant Dubey, a Member of Parliament (MP) from Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and chairman of the parliamentary panel, stated that Zuckerberg should issue an apology for the temporary removal of the video. Dubey emphasized that if Zuckerberg fails to apologize, the panel would recommend withdrawing Meta's safe harbor protection under Section 79 of India's Information Technology Act. This section provides legal immunity to internet service providers and social media platforms for third-party content, as long as they act as neutral hosts and adhere to basic due diligence.
"The committee has clearly stated that the apology should come from Zuckerberg," Dubey told reporters after the panel meeting. "If Zuckerberg does not give it, then the safe harbor protection under Section 79 should be withdrawn from him."
While the parliamentary panel does not have the authority to directly punish individuals, it can submit recommendations for punitive measures to the full House for a vote. The demand for accountability comes amid growing scrutiny of social media platforms in India, particularly regarding their content moderation practices.
In response to the incident, Meta's global head of public policy was summoned by India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to discuss the matter. During a recent meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, representatives from Meta, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, and officials from the Indian Home Ministry and MeitY were present. Meta representatives acknowledged that the video removal was an error and offered an apology during the session.
However, several lawmakers on the panel expressed that the issue transcended a mere apology, insisting on accountability for the incident. Reports indicate that committee members are seeking legal action against the Meta official responsible for the video's removal.
"For social media platforms who have been operating in this sector, they have to be aware of the requirements of the countries in which they are operating," stated Ashok Bagriya, managing editor of RT India.
The controversy surrounding the video removal is compounded by a recent case registered by police in Hyderabad against Meta's country head and several users of Facebook and Instagram for posts deemed offensive towards Prime Minister Modi. This incident has further fueled calls for transparency and accountability from social media companies operating in India.
In light of the ongoing tensions, Indian lawmakers are also seeking detailed information from Meta regarding actions taken against controversial and objectionable content on its platforms. The Indian government has tightened regulations governing online platforms, mandating that unlawful content flagged by courts or authorities be removed within three hours, a significant reduction from the previous 36-hour window.
As social media platforms continue to navigate the complex landscape of content moderation and regulatory compliance in India, the demand for accountability and transparency remains a focal point of discussion among lawmakers and the public alike. The outcome of this situation could have implications for how social media companies operate in one of their largest markets, where the combined user base of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp exceeds 1.15 billion.