Indian Police Open Case Against Meta’s India Head Over Altered Videos of Modi
Hyderabad cybercrime police have filed a report against Arun Srinivas, Meta’s India chief, over AI-altered videos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that circulated on Facebook and Instagram, escalating friction between the government and the platform.
The first information report (FIR), filed on 31 July, centres on manipulated media. Two Instagram users reported several digitally altered videos and images of Modi, describing them as misleading, derogatory, and obscene. These videos had a political backdrop, emerging after student protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Police are examining potential violations under the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (India’s new criminal code) and the Information Technology Act. The case is in its early stages, but naming a senior executive in an FIR is a significant development.
Meta has sought to reassure the government by pledging to strengthen oversight of prominent accounts, requiring at least two senior staff to review before acting on such posts.
This incident highlights a broader pattern. India’s IT ministry recently summoned Meta executives over a restricted post featuring Modi. The rules governing content moderation in India were designed with companies like Meta in mind, and the government has shown increased assertiveness regarding how these platforms handle material involving the prime minister.
The student protests elevate the stakes. Recent unrest led to an education minister’s resignation and prompted Modi’s first public comment on the turmoil, making any content related to him politically charged.
India is a crucial market for Meta, ranking among its largest by users. This gives New Delhi unusual leverage, and the company is wary of appearing to defy authorities. The legal implications remain uncertain, with reports against tech executives in India often serving as pressure tactics rather than leading to formal charges.
There are precedents for this tactic. Indian authorities have previously opened cases and summoned executives from platforms like X over content disputes, leveraging individual liability against foreign-headquartered companies. Deepfakes have been a policy flashpoint in India, with officials at times blurring the line between deepfakes and ordinary fake news. The country’s framework for regulating synthetic media continues to evolve, balancing free expression with defamation concerns.