Meta India Head Booked in FIR Over Alleged Morphed Posts Targeting PM Modi During Student Protest

The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have registered two FIRs against the head of Meta India and operators of several Facebook and Instagram accounts over the alleged circulation of morphed and objectionable posts targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent student-led protests over the paper leak controversy.

According to police, the cases were filed following complaints alleging that manipulated images and videos of the Prime Minister were widely shared on Meta-owned social media platforms during demonstrations linked to the nationwide agitation over examination paper leaks. Investigators claim the content was intended to mislead users and damage the Prime Minister's public image. The FIRs reportedly invoke provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. Along with several social media account operators, Meta India's head has also been named in the cases as investigators examine the platform's role in handling the disputed content.

Officials said notices have been issued seeking details related to the accounts involved, the origin of the posts, and the moderation measures taken after complaints were received. The investigation will also assess whether the platform complied with legal obligations regarding the removal of allegedly unlawful content.

The police action comes at a time when Meta is already under the Centre's scrutiny. Earlier this week, the company expressed regret after a social media post by Prime Minister Modi related to action against paper leaks was briefly removed. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has since sought an explanation from the company's senior leadership regarding the incident and its content moderation processes.

The latest FIRs add another dimension to the ongoing debate over the responsibilities of social media platforms in monitoring AI-generated and digitally manipulated content. With advances in artificial intelligence making it easier to create realistic fake images and videos, law enforcement agencies have increasingly focused on the rapid spread of misleading material during politically sensitive events. Police said the investigation is ongoing and that further action will depend on the evidence collected during the probe. No official statement has yet been issued by Meta India regarding the FIRs.