Apologies, Says Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on CSAM, Deepfake Content Errors

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has apologised over the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfake content and shortcomings in the company's platform operations during high-level discussions with the Centre, government sources said.

The apology came during a two-day meeting between officials of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Meta's global leadership on platform accountability, content moderation and compliance with Indian laws.

Meta Acknowledges Content Moderation Failures

According to government sources, Meta acknowledged mistakes in content moderation and expressed regret over the handling of harmful content across its platforms.

The discussions covered a range of issues related to platform accountability and content moderation. However, there was no discussion about the removal of a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said.

Centre Questions Meta's Safe Harbour Protection

During the meeting, government officials reportedly told Meta that it could not claim the legal protection available to intermediaries under the Information Technology Act because its algorithms actively determine which content is amplified and shown to users.

The officials argued that Meta's role in selecting and amplifying content meant it could not rely on intermediary status for safe harbour protection under the law.

Meta's Content Promotion Practices Discussed

The discussions also covered Meta's business practices.

According to sources, the company admitted that significant amounts had been spent on boosting certain categories of content and expressed regret over those decisions.

The two-day consultations focused on Meta's responsibilities concerning harmful content, platform accountability and compliance with India's legal framework.