Guwahati: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has apologised for the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), deepfake content and deficiencies in content moderation across the company’s platforms during high-level discussions with the Central government, according to official sources.
The apology came during a two-day meeting between senior officials of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Meta’s global leadership, where platform accountability, content moderation and compliance with Indian laws were discussed.
Sources said government officials strongly criticised Meta over the presence of harmful content on its platforms and emphasised that technology companies have a responsibility to protect children online. During the discussions, the Centre reportedly made it clear that digital platforms cannot profit from advertisements linked to child abuse content while simultaneously seeking safe harbour protections under the law.
According to sources, the meeting focused on strengthening platform accountability and improving mechanisms to tackle illegal and harmful content. They added that there was no discussion regarding the removal of a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Meta also acknowledged shortcomings in its content moderation practices and admitted that certain types of content had been amplified on its platforms. Company representatives expressed regret over the handling of such harmful material and assured officials that corrective measures were being pursued.
Sources further said Meta officials are scheduled to hold another round of discussions with the government on Thursday as consultations on platform safety and regulatory compliance continue.