Calls for legal action against Meta have grown louder as the Indian government wrapped up its third consecutive day of discussions with the social media giant over compliance with Indian laws. The talks have centred on concerns around WhatsApp's username policy, alleged presence of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Instagram, and the company's overall adherence to India's IT regulations. Cyber law expert Pavan Duggal has argued that if investigations have already established violations of Indian law, the government should move past discussions and start formal legal proceedings.
Meta's Executives Meet Indian Officials
According to government sources, senior Meta executives held several rounds of meetings with Indian officials, led by the company's Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan. Meta's technical team is expected to remain in India for further consultations. During these discussions, officials reviewed the company's understanding of India's IT regulations, its compliance mechanisms, and the technology it uses to detect and remove harmful content online.
Sources say the government reiterated that all global tech companies operating in India must fully comply with Indian laws and regulatory requirements. It was also indicated that Meta expressed regret over some of the concerns raised — though the government hasn't issued any formal public statement about the outcome of these meetings so far.
"Discussions Alone Aren't Enough," Says Cyber Law Expert
Cyber law expert Pavan Duggal was fairly direct in his assessment, saying that if legal violations have already been established, simply continuing to hold discussions sends the wrong message entirely. In his view, effective law enforcement requires timely legal action once statutory violations are confirmed — and the responsibility now lies with the government to act accordingly.
Duggal went a step further, suggesting that if sufficient evidence exists, authorities should consider criminal prosecution of Meta's senior management in India under relevant provisions of the IT Act, the POCSO Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. He also noted that the IT Act allows for financial penalties in cases involving data security violations, with compensation potentially imposed separately for each proven violation.
Drawing a comparison to legal action Meta has already faced in the United States over child safety concerns, Duggal pointed out that India's existing legal framework also permits criminal prosecution in appropriate cases. He added that once the Digital Personal Data Protection Act becomes fully operational, the government's ability to impose stronger financial penalties for future data protection violations will be significantly strengthened.
Compliance as a Responsibility, Not Just a Formality
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh weighed in as well, saying that compliance with Indian laws isn't simply a regulatory checkbox for global digital platforms — it's a fundamental responsibility toward user safety. According to him, if investigations reveal negligence relating to CSAM, serious cybercrime, or other unlawful activity on any platform, law enforcement agencies should conduct an impartial investigation and take appropriate legal action based on the evidence. He stressed that robust compliance systems and fast content moderation are essential for maintaining public trust in the digital ecosystem.
What This Could Mean for Tech Companies in India
The ongoing engagement between the government and Meta is being closely watched by industry stakeholders and digital policy experts alike. Officials are expected to review the company's compliance measures in detail before deciding on any further course of action. Many are viewing these developments as a signal to global tech companies operating in India that the government may be shifting toward a stricter enforcement approach on legal compliance and online safety standards going forward.
FAQs
Q1. What are the main concerns raised against Meta by the Indian government?
The discussions focused on WhatsApp's username policy, alleged presence of CSAM on Instagram, and Meta's compliance with India's IT regulations.
Q2. What legal action has been suggested against Meta by cyber law experts?
Cyber law expert Pavan Duggal has suggested that if sufficient evidence exists, authorities should consider criminal prosecution of Meta's senior management under the IT Act, POCSO Act, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Q3. How could the Digital Personal Data Protection Act affect future cases like this?
Once fully operational, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act is expected to significantly strengthen the government's ability to impose stronger financial penalties for data protection violations.