New Delhi, July 30 — The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has formally asked senior Meta officials to appear before the government and provide a detailed explanation for the temporary restriction placed on a Facebook post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the meeting expected within the next seven to 10 days.

MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan said the government is seeking both a policy-level and technical account from the social media company to understand how the incident occurred. “India intends to convey its concerns directly to Meta and obtain a comprehensive account of the circumstances that led to the brief restriction,” he stated.

Krishnan noted that Meta has already expressed regret and shared a preliminary explanation. However, the Centre has sought a fuller clarification, including the specific measures the company is implementing to prevent any recurrence. “Meta has already conveyed its regret over the incident and provided a preliminary explanation to the government. However, the Centre has sought a more detailed clarification, including the measures the company is putting in place to ensure such incidents do not recur,” he said.

The latest directive follows the government’s summons of a senior Meta executive a day earlier, after the temporary restriction of the Prime Minister’s post. In the video shared on 23 July, Mr Modi addressed India’s youth and reiterated the administration’s commitment to taking strict action against examination paper leaks, specifically referencing the NEET controversy.

Meta attributed the restriction to a technical glitch and issued an apology. The government, however, maintained that the explanation offered so far remained insufficient and required further scrutiny.

According to Krishnan, Meta has informed the ministry that it introduced a new protocol from 28 July aimed at preventing similar incidents. The updated process includes additional oversight for content published by the Prime Minister and other high-profile accounts, with the company seeking to strengthen safeguards against inadvertent restrictions.

The episode has drawn attention to the mechanisms platforms use to moderate content from official and high-visibility accounts. While Meta has described the restriction as an error, the government’s insistence on a formal appearance by senior executives underscores its expectation of greater accountability and transparency from major technology firms operating in India.

Officials indicated that the forthcoming meeting will focus on both the immediate technical failure and the broader policy framework governing content visibility for verified government and political accounts. The ministry’s approach reflects a continued emphasis on ensuring that public communication by elected leaders is not disrupted by automated or internal platform processes without clear justification.

Meta’s preliminary response and the subsequent introduction of enhanced oversight measures have been noted by the government, yet the demand for a more comprehensive written and in-person account signals that the matter remains under active review. The outcome of the scheduled discussions is expected to shape further engagement between Indian authorities and the company on content moderation practices.