Govt Extends Talks With Meta On Content Moderation; Questions X, Telegram On Deepfakes

Government is also engaging with X and Telegram on tackling deepfakes, child abuse material and platform accountability.

Advertisement
Read Time: 2 mins

The Union government will continue its engagement with Meta over the coming days, with the next phase of discussions focusing on the technical functioning of the platform's algorithms and content moderation systems, according to people familiar with the matter.

The latest round of talks follows the government's intensified scrutiny of large digital platforms after concerns over the spread of harmful content, deepfakes and child sexual abuse material. 

Advertisement

ALSO READ: Apologised For Error Restricting PM Modi's Post', Top Meta Official Says

According to officials, Meta's global team will remain engaged with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to examine the functioning of the company's recommendation algorithms and content moderation systems, as well as their alignment with Indian regulations.

Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is also likely to meet Meta officials later on Thursday as part of the ongoing engagement, the sources said. The discussions build on the Centre's broader push to strengthen accountability among social media intermediaries operating in India. 

Advertisement

ALSO READ: Govt To Social Media Giants: Comply With Indian Laws, Avoid Arbitrary Content Takedowns

Government officials have repeatedly emphasised that while digital platforms play a vital role in communication and innovation, they must also ensure user safety and comply with Indian laws governing online content.

The outreach is not limited to Meta. According to the sources, the government is also in discussions with X and Telegram on similar issues, with a particular focus on strengthening measures against the circulation of child sexual abuse material, deepfakes and other harmful content.

Advertisement

The consultations are expected to examine the effectiveness of existing moderation tools, transparency in algorithm-driven content recommendations and the responsiveness of platforms to government requests for the removal of unlawful content.

The continuing engagement signals the government's broader effort to strike a balance between safeguarding online freedom and ensuring that technology platforms adopt stronger safeguards against the misuse of their services. 

Officials indicated that the dialogue with major global technology companies will continue as India sharpens its digital governance framework.

Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.


Loading...