Meta Apologises to Indian Government, Admits Paid Promotion of Certain Content During High-Level Meeting

Social media giant Meta has reportedly apologised to the Indian government and acknowledged that money had been accepted to boost the visibility of certain types of content on its platforms, adding a new dimension to the ongoing scrutiny of the company's content moderation and advertising practices.

The admission was made during a meeting between senior Meta executives and government officials, where the company also expressed regret over several operational lapses, including the circulation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfake content, and the temporary restriction of a Facebook post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to reports, government officials questioned Meta's role in promoting content for payment, arguing that such practices raise concerns about whether the company functions solely as a neutral intermediary or actively influences the reach of online content. Officials reportedly indicated that paid amplification could have implications for the legal protections available to digital platforms under Indian law.

The meeting comes weeks after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued notices to Meta over advertisements and content linked to child sexual abuse material on Instagram. The government had directed the company to remove such content immediately and explain how it had appeared on the platform despite existing moderation systems.

Meta has consistently maintained that it follows a zero-tolerance policy against child sexual abuse material and uses artificial intelligence, automated detection systems, and human review teams to identify and remove harmful content. The company has also said it is strengthening its content review and enforcement mechanisms.

Another issue discussed during the meeting was Facebook's brief restriction of a post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July. Meta attributed the incident to an operational error, and Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan later apologised to the Union Information Technology Minister on behalf of the company. The latest developments come amid tighter digital regulations introduced by the Indian government this year. The revised framework requires social media platforms to act more quickly against unlawful content and increases accountability for technology companies operating in the country.

While Meta has assured authorities that it is committed to improving platform safety and transparency, the government's review of the company's content moderation, advertising practices, and compliance with Indian regulations is expected to continue. The outcome of these discussions could shape future regulatory oversight of major social media platforms in India.