Delhi Set to Hold High‑Level Talk with Meta on Online Safety and Content Moderation

New Delhi, 4 August – The Indian government is gearing up for a strategic meeting with Meta’s top executives to discuss pressing digital‑policy matters. Scheduled for 5 August, the session is expected to cover Meta’s approach to tackling child sexual abuse material, the rollout of a username feature on WhatsApp, and the protocol for taking down posts from verified or high‑profile accounts. MEITY Secretary S. Krishnan explained that the ministry has been pressing Meta for concrete answers on how it filters CSAM, the success rate of its detection algorithms, and the steps being taken to improve them. The government also reiterated its concerns about the WhatsApp username rollout, warning that the feature should not be launched until comprehensive anti‑fraud safeguards are in place. Another key agenda item is the moderation of content posted by verified users; officials want assurance that any removal process includes thorough verification to avoid accidental censorship. The meeting follows a recent episode where Meta’s automated system erroneously deleted a post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an error the company later acknowledged as a technical fault. As India moves toward stricter regulation of social media, the dialogue could shape the future of online safety and platform responsibility.