Government sources said the ongoing discussions are centred on ensuring that Meta’s platforms operate in accordance with Indian laws.
The Central government has stepped up its scrutiny of Meta’s operations in India, with government sources stressing that global technology platforms must comply with Indian laws rather than operate under legal standards applicable in other countries.
The remarks come as Meta’s global team remains in India for a fresh round of discussions with government officials following the controversy over the temporary restriction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook post.
According to government sources, three to four more meetings are expected over the coming days, with WhatsApp-related issues also set to be discussed.
‘Platforms can’t be run in India as per US law’
Government sources said the ongoing discussions are centred on ensuring that Meta’s platforms operate in accordance with Indian laws.
“Platforms can’t be run in India as per US law. These are technical matters; every aspect is to be understood. The aim is to employ law for the benefit of our society,” the sources said.
They added that every digital platform has a responsibility towards society and must comply with the country’s legal framework, just like any other institution.
According to the sources, Meta has already issued a public statement on the matter, while technical aspects, including platform logs, are being examined during the discussions.
The government also said it remains in regular contact with major digital platforms, including Meta, X and Telegram.
More meetings expected
Government sources said Meta’s global delegation will stay in India for a few more days. Three to four additional meetings are expected, and the next round of discussions will also include issues related to WhatsApp.
The central objective of the meetings is to assess whether Meta’s platforms are complying with Indian laws.
Apology over PM Modi’s Facebook post
The latest discussions follow a meeting between Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Meta Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Kaplan apologised to the Centre for what he described as the “error restricting” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook post.
“I apologised to the minister on behalf of Meta for the error restricting PM Modi’s post,” Kaplan said.
Meta maintained that the temporary restriction of the Prime Minister’s July 23 Facebook post, in which he addressed students during nationwide protests over examination paper leaks, resulted from an operational error.
The government had summoned Meta’s senior global executives to explain how the platform’s moderation systems flagged the Prime Minister’s post and what safeguards would be introduced to prevent similar incidents involving high-profile accounts.
Wider issues under discussion
The talks extended beyond the issue of the Prime Minister’s post.
According to government sources, Meta’s delegation also discussed concerns related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM), AI-generated deepfakes and broader operational shortcomings across the company’s platforms.
