A political confrontation is escalating in New Delhi over a brief social media outage. India's parliamentary committee on communications and information technology has issued an ultimatum to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, demanding a public apology within three days for the temporary removal of a video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Main Developments On Wednesday, committee chairman Nishikant Dubey, a lawmaker from Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, asserted that the video's takedown crossed a legal line. Dubey argued that deleting the prime minister's video was "not the work of an intermediary, but that of a publisher," a distinction that carries significant legal weight in India's digital regulations. The video in question was posted on July 23, during the height of protests led by the online Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). That movement began in New Delhi over exam irregularities but expanded into broader demonstrations concerning jobs, youth opportunities, and criticism of Modi's governance. In the footage, Modi addressed students directly, promising stricter laws and harsher punishments for paper leaks. Read also: Monsoon Mayhem: India's Flood Death Toll Crosses 100 Meta has attributed the brief removal from Facebook and Instagram to a technical error, and the video was subsequently restored. However, Dubey stated that the committee has formally written to the interior and technology ministries, demanding action against the platform if no apology is forthcoming. Background India represents Meta's largest user base globally, with hundreds of millions of people across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This incident marks a notable shift for Modi, a prolific user of X, who had turned to Instagram to issue his first vertical videos and connect with younger voters. Parliamentary standing committees in India hold the power to scrutinize policies and summon executives for questioning, but their authority has limits. These bodies cannot impose penalties, revoke legal protections, or direct prosecutions directly; any enforcement action must originate from the government or the courts under existing law. Why It Matters The dispute centers on the concept of "safe harbour" protections, which shield online platforms from liability for user-generated content. Dubey has warned that if Zuckerberg fails to apologize, "all the safe harbour protections that have been provided to his social media platforms should end." Such a move could fundamentally alter how global tech companies operate in India. What's Next Indian media reported that Meta officials have already been summoned to explain the temporary takedown, though the company had not responded to queries at the time of reporting. The three-day deadline for Zuckerberg's apology is now running, with the committee's letter to the interior and technology ministries setting the stage for potential government intervention.