Meta Apologizes and Admits to Paying for Content Boosting Amid Legal Scrutiny in India India’s government has intensified scrutiny of Meta Platforms Inc. following revelations that the company admitted to paying for the promotion of certain types of content, including illegal material, on its platforms. The social media giant, which operates Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, faces mounting pressure over its handling of child sexual abuse material (CSEAM) and other violations. The controversy has sparked debates over the applicability of intermediary protections under India’s Information Technology Act and the legal consequences Meta may face. The situation escalated after the Indian government summoned Meta executives for a meeting with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The summons followed the removal of a post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Facebook, which the government deemed a “wrongful action.” During the meeting, officials emphasized that Meta is not classified as an intermediary under India’s legal framework, meaning it does not qualify for the “safe harbour” provisions that typically shield platforms from liability for user-generated content. This classification has significant implications, as it could expose Meta to direct legal action for failing to moderate harmful material. Sources close to the discussions revealed that Meta’s global team, including senior executives like Joel Kaplan, met with IT Secretary S Krishnan and other officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The meeting, which lasted 45 minutes, focused on addressing concerns about lapses in content moderation, particularly regarding CSEAM and demeaning content against women.#meta_platforms_inc #ashwini_vaishnaw #meity #nishikant_dubey #joel_kaplan
