India's Parliamentary Panel Demands Zuckerberg Apologise for Removal of PM Modi Video
A standing committee of the Indian Parliament on communications and information technology, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, convened on 3 August 2026 to question major social‑media firms after a Prime Minister Narendra Modi video on exam‑paper leaks was briefly taken down from Meta platforms. Meta representatives said the takedown was a technical error; the clip was unavailable for about four to five hours before being restored.
The committee demanded a public apology from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, warning that failure to apologise could lead to the withdrawal of the company's safe‑harbour protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act. Lawmakers also raised broader concerns about content‑moderation practices, algorithmic transparency, child‑sexual‑abuse material, AI‑generated misinformation and cyber‑fraud, pressing Meta and other firms such as Google, X and Snapchat for stronger compliance with Indian regulations.
Entities: Google · Mark Zuckerberg · Meta Platforms · Meta Platforms, Inc. · Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology · Narendra Modi · Nishikant Dubey · Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology (S · X (formerly Twitter)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The panel will discuss online safety, data privacy, and compliance with law‑and‑order rules, focusing on women, children, farmers, rural residents, labourers and the general public. (All articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The government announced plans to set up Special Fast‑Track Courts and introduce stricter punishments for paper‑leak offences. (aa50f95f-355d-4bb5-b1d3-6cc3706132ea)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The meeting is chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. (All articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Meta said the removal of the video was a technical error. (de7e25b2-195a-45ac-981c-25cba7a6fc00)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Centre introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. (de7e25b2-195a-45ac-981c-25cba7a6fc00)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The video was Modi's first direct outreach to Gen Z during the 36‑day Cockroach Janta Party agitation over NEET‑UG 2026 exam irregularities. (de7e25b2-195a-45ac-981c-25cba7a6fc00)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT summoned Meta, X, Snapchat, and Google to appear on 3 August 2026 at 4 PM. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook video addressing examination paper leaks was briefly removed from the platform on 23 July 2026 and later restored. (All articles)