Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Given 3 Day Ultimatum To Apologize To PM Modi

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Electronics and Information Technology has taken a significant step by issuing a formal ultimatum to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The committee, which is chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, has demanded a personal apology from the Meta chief regarding the temporary removal of a video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This incident occurred on July 23, when the Prime Minister had shared a video addressing the concerns of the youth, specifically the 'Gen Z' population, regarding the controversial NEET paper leak issue.

Three Day Deadline and Legal Consequences

According to reports, the parliamentary panel has set a strict deadline of 3 days for Mark Zuckerberg to respond and offer an apology. The committee has also directed the social media giant to identify and take action against the individuals responsible for the removal of the Prime Minister's content.

The committee further warned of severe legal repercussions if Meta fails to comply with these demands, while specifically, the panel mentioned the potential removal of the 'Safe Harbor Clause' for the platform. The loss of this clause would mean that Meta's top executives would no longer enjoy legal immunity for content on their platform, clearing the way for the direct registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) against them. The committee emphasized that the central government would grant the necessary permissions for such legal actions if the situation remains unresolved.

Context of the Video and Meta's Technical Explanation

The video in question was a landmark digital communication as it was the Prime Minister's first-ever selfie video. It was initially shared on Instagram and later on Facebook to reach a wider audience. In the message, PM Modi promised strict action against those involved in paper leaks, aiming to reassure students who were protesting at the time under the banner of the 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP). Meta had briefly taken down this video from Facebook, which led to an immediate summons from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

In its defense, Meta informed the government that the removal was the result of a technical error caused by its AI-driven automated content moderation tools. While Meta did offer an apology for the glitch, the IT Ministry deemed the explanation insufficient. Meta has since assured the government that it will implement additional monitoring measures and has clarified that posts from VIPs and high-profile celebrities won't be removed in the future without the explicit approval of a senior official. However, the parliamentary committee remains firm on its demand for a direct apology from the CEO himself.