New Delhi: Tech giant Meta has apologised after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s selfie video was briefly removed from its platforms due to what the company described as an error. The video was later restored, with Meta stating that the removal was inadvertent and not linked to any policy violation. Government sources indicated that officials are likely to summon Meta representatives to seek an explanation over the incident.
The selfie-style video, in which the Prime Minister addressed young people on a national issue, had gained significant traction on social media before it temporarily became unavailable. Users attempting to access the post were shown a message indicating that the content was unavailable.
Meta says removal was an error
Responding to the incident, a Meta spokesperson said:
“The content was removed in error and has since been restored.”
The company also apologised for the temporary removal, maintaining that it resulted from a technical mistake rather than any moderation decision or policy enforcement.
Government may seek explanation
According to government sources cited by multiple media reports, the Centre is taking the matter seriously and is likely to summon Meta officials to explain how the Prime Minister’s official post was mistakenly removed.
While no formal notice had been publicly issued at the time of reporting, officials are expected to seek details about the circumstances that led to the error and the safeguards in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Video restored shortly after
The video was restored within a short period after users reported that it had disappeared.
Following its restoration, the Prime Minister’s post became accessible again on Meta’s platform, and normal viewing resumed. Meta reiterated that the issue had been resolved promptly after it was identified.
Incident sparks discussion
The brief removal triggered widespread discussion online, with many users questioning how content posted from the Prime Minister’s verified account could be mistakenly taken down.
The incident has also renewed attention on how large social media platforms handle content moderation and technical errors, particularly when they involve high-profile public figures and government accounts.
Conclusion
Meta has apologised for briefly removing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s selfie video, attributing the incident to a technical error. Although the content has been restored, the government is expected to seek an explanation from the company, highlighting growing scrutiny of major social media platforms and their content management systems.