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Technology
India orders Meta to delete morphed photo within 24 hours after PM's concerns
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 26 Sep 2026, 09:38 AM
👁 13
Indian authorities have given Meta a 24‑hour deadline to remove a digitally altered photograph after the Prime Minister raised concerns about it.
New Delhi officials have issued a formal notice to Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, directing the social‑media giant to take down a morphed image that allegedly misrepresents a public figure. The directive, which cites concerns raised by the Prime Minister's office, gives the company a strict 24‑hour window to comply.
The notice does not disclose the specific content of the altered photograph, but it underscores the government's heightened scrutiny of online misinformation and the use of digital manipulation on platforms with massive Indian audiences. Meta is expected to respond by either removing the material or providing a justification for its continued presence.
Failure to meet the deadline could trigger further regulatory action under India's information and technology laws. The move reflects a broader push by the administration to ensure that social‑media platforms adhere to national standards of authenticity and public safety.
Industry observers note that this is one of several recent interventions aimed at curbing the spread of doctored media online, signaling a more assertive stance by Indian regulators toward global tech firms operating in the country.
Meta has not yet issued a public comment on the notice, and the situation remains under close watch by both media watchdogs and the government.
The notice does not disclose the specific content of the altered photograph, but it underscores the government's heightened scrutiny of online misinformation and the use of digital manipulation on platforms with massive Indian audiences. Meta is expected to respond by either removing the material or providing a justification for its continued presence.
Failure to meet the deadline could trigger further regulatory action under India's information and technology laws. The move reflects a broader push by the administration to ensure that social‑media platforms adhere to national standards of authenticity and public safety.
Industry observers note that this is one of several recent interventions aimed at curbing the spread of doctored media online, signaling a more assertive stance by Indian regulators toward global tech firms operating in the country.
Meta has not yet issued a public comment on the notice, and the situation remains under close watch by both media watchdogs and the government.