Meta Apologises After Briefly Removing PM Modi's Facebook Video, Calls It an 'Error'
Meta has apologised after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook video was briefly blocked on the platform, saying the content was "removed in error" and has now been restored. The incident has also prompted the Indian government to seek an explanation from the social media company.
Meta Apologises After Briefly Removing PM Modi's Facebook Video, Says It Was 'Removed in Error'
Meta has issued an apology after a video posted on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official Facebook account was briefly removed from the platform before being restored.
In a statement, the company said the content had been "removed in error" and confirmed that the video has since been reinstated on Facebook.
What Happened?
The controversy began when users noticed that a video featuring Prime Minister Modi's address to the youth was no longer accessible on Facebook. For a brief period, the content appeared to have been blocked before it was restored.
The video was originally posted amid the nationwide debate over the alleged NEET paper leak and outlined the government's proposed measures to strengthen action against examination irregularities.
Meta's Response
Responding to the incident, a Meta spokesperson stated:
"The content was removed in error and has since been restored."
The company attributed the removal to an error and did not indicate that it was the result of a deliberate policy decision.
Government Seeks Explanation
Following the incident, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) reportedly took note of the matter and summoned Meta's global public policy leadership to explain the temporary removal of the Prime Minister's video. Officials are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident and Meta's explanation.
Political Attention
The temporary removal of the Prime Minister's video quickly drew political attention, with questions being raised about content moderation on global social media platforms. The restoration of the video and Meta's apology, however, helped bring the issue under control, though the government is expected to continue reviewing the incident.
What's Next?
While Meta has restored the video and described the incident as an error, the government is expected to seek further clarification to understand how the removal occurred and what safeguards will be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.