Meta Apologizes to India for IT Act Violation Over Modi Video

Meta and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, were compelled to issue an apology to India following what senior advisor Kanchan Gupta termed an “unacceptable intervention” in the nation’s political affairs.

Gupta, who serves in India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, explained the apology stemmed from the temporary removal of a video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Understanding the Violation

This action, according to Gupta, constitutes a clear violation of the safe harbor clause embedded within India’s Information Technology Act.

The clause provides immunity from criminal liability to platforms, but only under the strict condition that they maintain neutrality regarding content.

Gupta underscored that India’s sovereign laws must always take precedence over the internal policies established by major technology companies.

Broader Media Accountability

Beyond the immediate incident, Gupta also critically assessed Western media’s coverage of student protests in India.

He suggested this coverage often exhibits a bias towards the “monsterization” of India.

Furthermore, Gupta highlighted a significant disparity in accountability between digital media platforms and traditional journalistic outlets.

He firmly asserted India’s capability to manage its own democratic processes, dismissing the necessity for external lectures on the matter.