New Delhi: Tech giant Meta has officially apologised for removing a video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Facebook, citing a technical error as the reason for the content being blocked. A Meta spokesperson clarified that the mistake has since been rectified, and the video has been fully restored on the social media platform.
The controversy began on July 23, when Prime Minister Modi shared a self recorded video on Facebook. Addressing students amidst ongoing protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the Prime Minister assured the youth that the government was treating the issue with utmost seriousness. In the video, which quickly garnered millions of views, he promised strict action to tackle the problem, announcing the setup of fast track courts and stringent punishments for those involved in paper leak cases. He also mentioned that a new law addressing the issue would soon be introduced in Parliament.
The removal of the video sparked immediate backlash from political circles. Several leaders expressed strong objections, questioning the intent behind the move. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Tajinder Singh Bagga leveled serious allegations against Meta, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the issue. Bagga stated that the Prime Minister’s post detailing strict actions against paper leaks was inexplicably blocked in India and questioned under whose instructions Meta had taken such an action.
According to sources, the sudden blocking of the Prime Minister’s video prompted the government to summon Meta’s global head, alongside the global head of Instagram, seeking a detailed explanation. Following these summons, the company issued its statement of apology and reinstated the content.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of a 37 day long protest spearheaded by the CJP, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam irregularities. The CJP concluded their agitation on Saturday after claiming the government had agreed to their demands. Their core demands included Pradhan’s resignation, compensation for families of students who died by suicide, and the withdrawal of cases registered against the protesters.
While the video is now accessible, the episode has reignited discussions around the power and accountability of global social media platforms in regulating content, particularly involving prominent political figures and sensitive national issues.