Overview
- Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police registered FIRs on Friday naming Meta India head Arun Srinivas and several Facebook and Instagram account operators under Sections 66(C) and 67 of the Information Technology Act and Sections 353(2) and 336(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- The cases follow complaints by two BJP supporters who submitted roughly 20 links they said showed morphed or AI‑generated reels and images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked police to preserve digital evidence and trace account operators.
- Police have issued notices to Meta, are seeking account details to identify and potentially arrest those responsible, and say many of the links flagged by complainants became inactive as investigators began tracing operators.
- Meta told the government it had restored a Prime Minister post removed in error by automated filters on July 23 and has put in place extra safeguards that require review by at least two senior officials for posts from prominent accounts, but MeitY has said the explanation is not adequate and has summoned Meta's global team to appear before officials and a parliamentary panel.
- The episode comes as India has shortened takedown windows and tightened platform liability this year and naming a senior local executive is a rare step that could raise enforcement risks for platforms and change how global tech firms handle moderation and executive accountability in India.