PM Modi video row: Parliamentary panel summons Meta, X, Google, over privacy, public order concerns
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The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has summoned representatives of Meta, Google, X and Snapchat to appear before it on August 3 at 4 pm for a discussion on the regulation of social and digital platforms, days after Meta briefly removed a Facebook video posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Committee chairman and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey announced the meeting in a post on X, saying, “On 3 August 2026 at 4 PM, our Parliamentary Committee on IT and Communication has summoned Meta (Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp), X (Twitter), Snapchat, and Google. How will the privacy of women, children, farmers, rural folks, laborers, and the general public be protected? How do these companies ensure the government’s public order?”
The move comes amid a controversy over the temporary removal of a video posted by the Prime Minister on Facebook. The issue gained attention after BJP social media head Preeti Gandhi shared screenshots on X claiming that the video had been taken down, asking why Meta had removed the Prime Minister’s post. Several users also flagged the issue on social media, following which the video was restored.
As per reports, responding to the controversy, Meta said the removal was unintentional. “The content was removed in error and has since been restored,” a Meta spokesperson said.
Separately, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has summoned Meta’s global head of public policy to seek an explanation over the incident, with government sources saying the matter is “far from settled.”
According to the panel’s agenda, the meeting will cover “Social and Digital Platforms and Their Regulation.” Besides executives from Meta, Google, X and Snapchat, officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministry of Home Affairs have also been asked to attend.
What was the video about?
The video featured the Prime Minister addressing students and young aspirants in the wake of concerns over examination irregularities. In it, Modi announced a series of measures aimed at restoring trust in the examination system, including the constitution of a high-level task force to recommend reforms, stricter action against those involved in paper leaks, fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials, and stronger safeguards to protect the future of students.