Zuckerberg apologizes to India government over Meta content and errors

Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has apologized to the Indian government regarding child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfake content, and operational errors on the company's platforms, according to local media reports.

During discussions with Indian authorities, Meta executives, including head of public policy Joel Kaplan, met with government officials. The officials emphasized the need for Meta to explain its measures for tackling CSAM and monitoring AI-generated content. Sources indicated that Meta acknowledged lapses in content promotion and moderation, and admitted to paying substantial amounts of money to boost certain types of content.

The government also raised concerns about the removal of content from verified accounts of prominent personalities, citing a brief removal of a video of Prime Minister Modi from Facebook. Officials stated that such takedowns require stronger safeguards, especially concerning accounts of public figures. The government also noted that Meta's control over content distribution could affect its eligibility for safe harbor protection under India's Information Technology Act.