Parliamentary Panel Summons Major Social Media Platforms Over Regulation and User Privacy

New Delhi, July 28, 2026, IPU Media Update News: A parliamentary panel has summoned representatives of major social media and digital platforms, including Meta, Google, X and Snapchat, to discuss the regulation of social media platforms, user privacy and public law and order. Officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Ministry of Home Affairs have also been directed to appear before the panel on August 3.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, said the committee has sought explanations from representatives of Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, as well as Google, X and Snapchat.

According to Dubey, the committee will seek information on how these platforms protect the privacy and safety of women, children, farmers, rural populations, workers and the general public, and how they address issues related to public law and order.

The meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology is scheduled for August 3 at 4 p.m. Representatives of MeitY, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the concerned social and digital media platforms are expected to provide explanations on the subject of "Social-Digital Platforms and Their Regulation."

Meta Video Removal Incident

The development follows an incident involving Meta in which a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussing action against examination paper leaks was reportedly removed from Facebook before being restored.

Meta subsequently apologised to the Central Government and stated that the video had not been intentionally removed or taken down because of a content-policy violation, attributing the incident to technical reasons. The matter was reportedly taken up by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, which sought an explanation from the company.

The upcoming parliamentary meeting is expected to focus broadly on the regulation of social and digital media platforms, privacy protection, user safety and the responsibilities of technology companies in maintaining public order.

— M. Venkata T. Reddy, News Editor and Investigative Journalist