Govt warns Meta to follow our constitution, not US laws: Report
The government says social media platforms must follow India's laws while operating in the country.
Meta will explain how its systems work and how it follows Indian rules.
The Centre is also reviewing other platforms to check their legal compliance.
The Centre has made it clear that social media companies operating in India cannot function solely according to the principles followed in other countries and must comply with India's constitutional and legal framework. Government sources said platforms such as Meta will be expected to explain how their systems work, including the safeguards they have in place to ensure compliance with Indian laws. The remarks come after recent concerns over the handling of content on Meta's platforms, prompting the government to engage with social media companies and examine whether their operations and decision-making processes are in line with the country's legal requirements and constitutional provisions.
Government to examine Meta's systems
According to reports, government officials are set to hold further discussions with Meta's global team to seek details about the company's algorithms, compliance mechanisms, checks and balances, and the guardrails it follows while operating in India. Not only that but the centre has also reportedly told Meta that it could not claim the status of a neutral 'intermediary' under India's IT Act, since the company's algorithms actively curate and recommend content rather than merely hosting third-party material. Reports also suggest that Meta's global team has extended its stay in the national capital for these discussions.
Meta is not the only company the government will be holding discussions with, as the centre is also reportedly engaging with other social media platforms to assess whether they are complying with Indian laws. The government has made its position clear, saying that social media companies cannot operate in India based on the US Constitution and must instead function in accordance with India's constitutional and legal framework.
Meta should respect Indian laws
During the discussion with Meta's global team the government highlighted that social media platforms must respect the provisions of Article 19 of the Constitution while also complying with the reasonable restrictions allowed under it. The comments come as the Centre continues its discussions with digital platforms over content moderation, platform accountability, and legal compliance.
Parliamentary panel raises concerns
Anup Sanjay Dhotre, Member of Parliament and Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, said freedom of speech and expression is important but should be exercised responsibly.
Referring to reports that a post related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi was removed from Meta's platform, Dhotre said the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee had sought an apology from the company and Meta has since apologised over the incident.