The Centre is set to meet senior executives from Meta on 5 August to seek explanations on a range of pressing concerns, including the company's handling of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), risks linked to WhatsApp usernames, and the moderation of content involving verified and prominent accounts across its platforms.

What the Government Wants to Know

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Secretary S. Krishnan confirmed the meeting while speaking on the sidelines of the launch of Voice of India — an independent multimodal artificial intelligence evaluation platform developed jointly by AI4Bharat and Josh Talks AI. He said the discussions would cover several issues that have recently drawn government concern.

'There are a range of issues. The issue of CSAM was raised with them, so we will want to understand what measures have been taken to tackle that,' Krishnan said. The government is seeking clarity on the specific steps Meta has taken to curb the spread of such material on its platforms.

WhatsApp Usernames and Verified Account Safeguards

The meeting is also expected to address concerns around WhatsApp's proposed username feature. MeitY had earlier directed WhatsApp not to roll out the feature until risks related to impersonation, online fraud, and cybercrime were adequately addressed. That directive remains in force.

On verified accounts, Krishnan indicated the government wants stronger safeguards before any content takedown. 'Adequate checks should be in place whenever content from verified users is taken down,' he said. Officials are also expected to probe Meta's internal protocols and why existing mechanisms may not be functioning as intended.

Background: The PM Modi Post Removal

The meeting follows heightened friction between the government and Meta over the past several weeks. The immediate trigger was the removal of a social media post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he addressed protesting students on government measures to tackle examination paper leaks. The post was taken down by Meta's automated enforcement systems.

Meta subsequently clarified that the removal was an error and issued an apology for the unintended takedown. However, the incident prompted the government to summon Joel Kaplan, Meta's President of Global Affairs, to appear in person and explain the company's content moderation policies.

Broader Scrutiny of Meta in India

This is not an isolated episode. Meta has faced increasing regulatory pressure in India across multiple fronts in recent months, with the government raising concerns about platform accountability, synthetic content, and the adequacy of safeguards for high-profile users. The 5 August meeting is expected to mark a significant escalation in that scrutiny, with officials seeking detailed answers on why certain protective mechanisms have not delivered effective results.

How Meta responds — and whether it offers concrete timelines for remedial action — will likely shape the government's next steps on platform regulation.