Instagram’s recommendation system is expected to come under close government scrutiny
The Centre has intensified its scrutiny of Meta by summoning the company’s global leadership, including Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan, for a high-level meeting next week over concerns related to algorithmic bias, content moderation, public order and child safety.
The move comes as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) seeks greater accountability from one of the world’s largest social media companies over how its platforms operate in India.
Government raises multiple concerns
According to officials familiar with the matter, the government has conveyed serious concerns over content that could affect public order, posts that allegedly fail to meet Meta’s own community standards and the handling of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
Officials have also indicated that the continued presence of such content could have implications for the company’s safe harbour protections under Indian law.
The dates for the meeting are currently being finalised.
Instagram algorithms under the scanner
In a significant development, the government has specifically asked Meta to send a technical representative from Instagram, signalling that officials intend to closely examine how the platform’s recommendation systems and algorithms function.
The discussions are expected to focus on how content is amplified, moderated and recommended to users, particularly where such systems could influence public discourse or social harmony.
Compliance with Indian law
Government officials have made it clear that digital platforms operating in India are expected to comply with domestic laws and regulatory requirements.
“If they operate in India, which is their largest market, they will have to follow Indian law,” an official familiar with the developments said.
Parliamentary panel appearance likely
Apart from the meeting with MeitY, Meta’s representatives are also expected to appear before a parliamentary panel, where lawmakers are likely to seek explanations regarding the company’s content moderation policies, recommendation systems and compliance with Indian regulations.
The upcoming interactions are expected to form part of the government’s broader effort to strengthen oversight of large technology platforms and ensure greater transparency in how digital content is governed.
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