- Meta apologised for the brief removal of PM Modi's selfie video from Facebook, which was attributed to a technical glitch.
- The video, posted shortly after midnight last Thursday, featured PM Modi addressing student protesters amid nationwide protests over the NEET-UG paper leak.
- According to a Meta spokesperson, "The content was removed in error and has since been restored."
- Before restoration, users in India saw a notice stating that the video had been withheld in the region following a legal request.
- The Ministry of Information and Technology has sent summons to the global heads of Meta and Instagram regarding the incident.
- The government is treating the incident seriously and is examining both Meta's explanation and the circumstances that led to the video's removal.
- Meta representatives and concerned officials may be summoned to provide an explanation.
Meta has issued an apology after a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefly removed from Facebook due to a technical glitch. The video, which addressed student protesters, was posted shortly after midnight last Thursday and called for calm amid nationwide protests over the NEET-UG paper leak.12347
According to a Meta spokesperson, "The content was removed in error and has since been restored." The Indian government is taking the matter seriously, having summoned the global heads of Meta and Instagram for an explanation. Sources indicate that the government is examining the circumstances surrounding the video's removal, which was initially accompanied by a notice stating it had been withheld in the region due to a legal request.56
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between social media platforms and government authorities, particularly in sensitive political contexts. As protests continue, the government's response to Meta's actions may set a precedent for future interactions with tech companies operating in India.
Meta representatives may be required to provide further clarification on the incident, as officials seek to understand how such a glitch could occur during a critical moment in the political landscape.9
“The video, which addressed student protesters amid nationwide unrest over the NEET-UG paper leak, was removed in error, according to Meta. The Ministry of Information and Technology is treating the incident seriously, examining the circumstances, and may summon Meta representatives for further clarification.”
