The Indian government has formally requested Meta to explain how its Instagram and Facebook algorithms determine content reach and visibility. Officials are also demanding stronger cooperation on child sexual abuse material (CSAM), online fraud, deepfakes, and automated bot accounts.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw chaired a second meeting with Meta officials on Thursday. Meta’s delegation included global affairs chief Joel Kaplan and public policy vice president Neil Potts. Discussions covered technical systems, legal duties, and content distribution practices.
Scrutiny Over Algorithmic Bias
Government officials focused on how Instagram recommends, reduces, or promotes posts. They also examined allegations that the platform’s systems favored anti-government material and handled comparable content differently.
The scrutiny is linked to concerns about political and public-interest content. During the CJP-led Gen Z protests, users relied on Instagram to share videos, personal accounts, and protest updates. Recommendation systems influenced which posts reached larger audiences.
Meta controls the rules and data behind those decisions. Users can appeal when the company removes a post, but they may receive little information when Instagram limits a post’s reach or excludes it from recommendation sections.
The government wants Meta to explain the signals its systems use when ranking content. Officials also seek details about reduced distribution and the treatment of Indian-language posts compared with English-language material.
Indian Law Guides Platform Operations
Government sources said every social media company operating in India must follow Indian law. The requirement covers Meta, X, and other online platforms serving users across the country.
“We are a constitutional democracy. The rule of law is paramount,” a government source said. “Platforms operating in India cannot function according to the US Constitution or the Constitution of Europe.”
The source added that platforms must operate under India’s Constitution and national laws. Officials also cited Article 19, which protects freedom of speech, and Article 19(2), which permits reasonable restrictions under defined grounds.
Authorities summoned Meta after Facebook briefly restricted a video post from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kaplan later apologized for the error. Government sources said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also apologized over the incident and other platform concerns.
Officials said any legal proceedings would follow the required legal process. For now, authorities are assessing Meta’s conduct under Indian rules. They also seek answers across technical, policy, and legal areas.
Meta’s Technical Team Continues Talks
Meta’s technical team will continue discussions with government technology officials after Kaplan leaves India. The talks will cover recommendation systems, alleged bias, CSAM, fraudulent posts, deepfakes, and bot activity.
Meta told officials that it was working to address harmful content and automated accounts. However, the meetings also covered how its systems rank lawful posts before any removal decision occurs.
Government officials want clearer information on how automated tools separate harmful mobilization from legitimate reporting and political criticism. They also seek stronger cooperation when Indian law enforcement agencies investigate CSAM and fraud.
Available reports do not confirm that Meta shared internal distribution data or a formal audit of protest-related recommendations. Discussions will continue between the company’s specialists and government teams.
“The first question is whether they are functioning in accordance with the law of the land,” an official said. The government’s primary demand is compliance with Indian law, along with clearer answers about the automated systems that determine content visibility for Instagram and Facebook users.
