Parliamentary Committee to Hold 4 PM Meeting with Meta, Google, X, and Snapchat

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has called representatives from leading technology companies—Meta, X, Snapchat, and Google—to appear before the panel at 4 PM today for discussions on online safety, data privacy, and platform accountability.

The meeting is expected to examine the broader digital safety framework in India, with particular emphasis on protecting women and children online, ensuring the privacy of farmers, rural communities, workers, and ordinary citizens, and reviewing how social media platforms comply with government regulations related to law and order. BJP MP and committee chairman Nishikant Dubey announced the meeting and outlined the key issues the panel intends to discuss.

"On August 3, 2026, at 4 PM, the Parliamentary Committee on IT and Communication has summoned representatives of Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), X, Snapchat, and Google," Dubey said. He added that the committee would seek answers on how these companies plan to safeguard the privacy of women, children, farmers, rural residents, labourers, and the wider public, while also examining the measures they take to support the government's efforts to maintain public order.

The hearing comes shortly after Meta mistakenly removed a Facebook video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which he addressed the issue of examination paper leaks. The company later restored the video, stating that it had been taken down due to a technical error. The address, published on July 23, was Modi's first direct message to Generation Z during the 36-day protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination.

The Prime Minister promised stronger legal measures to tackle paper leaks, including the creation of Special Fast-Track Courts and tougher penalties under new legislation. Soon after, the Centre introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, proposing prison terms of up to 10 years, higher financial penalties, and dedicated fast-track courts for offences related to examination malpractice.

The nationwide student protests concluded on July 25 following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The government also reached an agreement with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and activist Sonam Wangchuk, which included withdrawing cases against protesters, preventing alleged police harassment, and strengthening laws aimed at preventing examination paper leaks.