GUWAHATI: A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has given Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg a three-day deadline to apologise for the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video from Facebook. The committee also warned that the company could face the withdrawal of its safe harbour protections if it fails to take action against those responsible.
ALSO READ: Assam: Darrang Flood Situation Turns Critical After Noa River Embankment Breach
The panel, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, described the removal of the Prime Minister's video as an "attack on democracy," stating that the incident involved the elected representative of 1.4 billion Indians.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 5, the committee said that if Meta does not initiate action against those responsible, the Safe Harbour Clause could be revoked. It further warned that if Zuckerberg fails to apologise, additional legal action may be considered.
The video, which was first uploaded on Instagram and later shared on Facebook, marked Prime Minister Modi's first direct selfie-style message. In the video, he addressed Gen Z audiences and promised stringent measures to curb paper leaks in response to student protests led by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
The Facebook version of the video was briefly restricted before being restored after widespread public criticism.
Earlier this week, Meta representatives appeared before the Parliamentary panel and faced questions over the incident. Although the company attributed the removal to a "technical glitch" and issued an apology, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology reportedly termed the explanation "unreasonable," stating that a technology company like Meta should have systems in place to prevent such errors and rectify them without delay.