India's Parliament Demands Zuckerberg Apology: Meta's Immunity on the Line After Modi Video Removal

India's Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology has delivered a firm three-day ultimatum to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, demanding a personal apology for the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video from Facebook. Failure to comply could strip Meta platforms of their crucial 'safe harbour protection' under Section 79(3) of India's IT Act, potentially exposing the tech giant to legal action as a publisher rather than a mere intermediary. This high-stakes demand comes amidst escalating scrutiny from the Indian government on Big Tech over content moderation, the spread of deepfakes, and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). While Meta Global Affairs Head, Joel Kaplan, has already offered an apology to IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, citing an 'inadvertent error,' the committee, led by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, insists on an unqualified apology directly from Zuckerberg. This incident also follows a recent criminal case filed by Hyderabad cybercrime police against Meta India head Arun Srinivas concerning allegedly morphed AI-generated videos of PM Modi, highlighting a broader governmental push for greater accountability from social media platforms. The immediate consequence for Meta is a race against the clock to meet the apology deadline, with the potential loss of safe harbour meaning direct legal liability for user-generated content, including criminal prosecution for platform officials. This move signals India's unwavering resolve to enforce its stringent digital regulations and could significantly reshape how global tech companies operate and moderate content in one of their largest markets. Observers will be watching closely to see if Zuckerberg personally steps in and how this confrontation impacts the delicate balance between government oversight and platform autonomy.