The Central Government has issued a strong message to Meta, stating that digital platforms operating in India must comply with Indian laws and cannot function according to legal standards applicable in any other country. The warning comes amid ongoing discussions between government officials and Meta over concerns relating to child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfake content, algorithmic accountability and platform compliance.
Government Stresses Compliance With Indian Law
Officials have made it clear that every social media intermediary operating in India is required to follow the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. According to the government, compliance with Indian legal requirements is mandatory regardless of where a platform is headquartered.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has repeatedly stated that digital intermediaries must remove unlawful content within prescribed timelines, strengthen user safety mechanisms and exercise due diligence to retain legal protections available under Indian law.
Meta Acknowledges Serious Compliance Issues
During discussions with Indian authorities, Meta acknowledged that it had encountered serious challenges in dealing with issues such as CSAM, deepfake content and certain moderation failures. The company also apologised for operational errors that led to the removal of the Prime Minister's Facebook content and said it is improving its content review systems.
Government officials also stated that Meta acknowledged failures relating to certain paid content promotion practices and assured authorities that corrective measures were being implemented.
Safe Harbour Protection May Face Review
One of the most significant issues under discussion is the legal protection known as "Safe Harbour" under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act. This provision generally protects intermediaries from liability for user-generated content, provided they comply with due diligence requirements prescribed under Indian law.
Government representatives have indicated that repeated violations or failure to comply with statutory obligations could lead to reconsideration of such legal protections. Parliamentary members have also publicly warned that continued non-compliance may have legal consequences for the platform.
Focus on CSAM, Deepfakes and Illegal Content
The government has recently strengthened enforcement measures relating to child sexual abuse material, AI-generated deepfakes, impersonation and other unlawful online content. Updated regulatory requirements require faster removal of illegal material and stronger proactive monitoring by significant social media intermediaries.
Authorities have emphasized that platforms must deploy appropriate technological tools to detect prohibited content, respond quickly to lawful government notices and improve user safety mechanisms.
Meta Says It Is Improving Safety Systems
Meta has maintained that it operates with a zero-tolerance policy toward child exploitation and unlawful content. The company says it continues investing in artificial intelligence, automated detection systems and human review teams to identify and remove policy-violating material across its platforms.
Meta has also stated that it is strengthening advertisement review procedures and enhancing safeguards to prevent misuse of its services.
Digital Regulation Remains a Priority
The developments reflect India's broader effort to increase accountability among large technology companies. Officials say digital platforms must balance freedom of expression with user safety, transparency and legal compliance while operating in the country.
Policy experts believe that future discussions between the government and global technology companies are likely to focus on platform accountability, AI-generated content, online child safety, algorithmic transparency and stronger enforcement mechanisms.
Conclusion
As discussions between the Indian government and Meta continue, the issue has become one of the country's most closely watched technology policy matters. While Meta has expressed its willingness to address regulatory concerns and improve compliance, authorities have reiterated that adherence to Indian laws is non-negotiable. The outcome of these discussions could significantly influence the regulatory framework governing major digital platforms operating in India.