Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly apologised to the Indian government over content moderation failures on the company’s platforms, including the presence of child sexual abuse material, deepfake content and recent operational mistakes.
According to local media reports, the apology came during a meeting between Meta executives and senior Indian government officials on Tuesday. While Meta has not publicly confirmed the reports, the discussions highlight growing pressure on major technology companies to strengthen online safety measures in India.
Meta Apologises to India Over Content Issues
Financial publication Moneycontrol reported that Zuckerberg’s apology covered several issues, including child sexual abuse material found on Meta platforms, the spread of deepfake content and operational lapses affecting Facebook and Instagram.
The report stated that the apology was delivered during a high-level meeting between Meta representatives and Indian officials.
Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has not yet issued an official statement responding to the reported meeting.
India Tightens Pressure on Meta
The reported apology follows increasing scrutiny from Indian authorities over harmful online content.
In July, the Indian government directed Meta to remove advertisements and posts promoting child sexual abuse material from Instagram. Officials also requested an explanation regarding how such content appeared on the platform.
At the time, Meta reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward child sexual abuse material and said it continued investing in stronger detection systems and safety technology.
Platform Errors Also Raise Concerns
Meta also faced criticism last month after Facebook temporarily restricted a post published by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The company later explained that the restriction resulted from an operational error and restored the content.
Separately, Hyderabad police registered a case against Meta India head Arun Srinivas after Facebook allegedly hosted videos that authorities claimed contained abusive references to the Prime Minister.
These incidents have increased attention on how global technology companies manage content in India.
India Introduces Tougher Digital Rules
India has strengthened its digital content regulations this year, increasing the responsibility of online platforms for user-generated content.
Under updated rules introduced in February, companies must remove unlawful content flagged by courts or government authorities within three hours, a significant reduction from the previous 36-hour deadline.
Failure to comply could result in platforms losing important legal protections that shield them from liability over user-generated content.
The stricter regulations reflect India’s efforts to improve online safety while holding technology companies more accountable for content appearing on their platforms.
