Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over CSAM, Deepfake Content, Say Government Sources

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday apologised over the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfake content and shortcomings in the operation of the company’s platforms, according to government sources.

Sources said Zuckerberg acknowledged concerns raised by the government regarding objectionable and manipulated content and expressed regret over what were described as operational errors on Meta’s platforms. They further claimed that the government informed Meta that its role in selecting and distributing content to users could place the company outside the definition of a neutral intermediary under Indian law.

According to the sources, authorities told Meta that it could lose the ‘safe harbour’ protections available under the Information Technology Act if the platform actively determines which content reaches users.

The sources also claimed that Meta admitted it had spent money to boost certain types of content and expressed regret over the issue.

Earlier in the day, IT Ministry sources said social media platforms, including Meta, must comply with Indian law after a parliamentary panel asked Zuckerberg to issue an unqualified apology within three days over the brief removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Facebook post.

IT Ministry sources also said Meta could lose its safe harbour protection in India if it failed to comply within the stipulated timeline.

A high-level Meta delegation met IT Secretary S Krishnan in New Delhi to discuss the erroneous removal of the Prime Minister’s video.

The delegation was also likely to meet Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw later in the day.

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