‘Don’t bow down to PM’: Arvind Kejriwal says Meta restricted his Facebook account; access now restored
Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal's social media presence has returned to normal in India. Both his Facebook and Instagram
Meta Restores Kejriwal’s Facebook: ‘Don’t Bow Down to PM’
Theindiapostdaily.com – Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s social media presence has returned to normal in India. Both his Facebook and Instagram profiles are now visible to users across the country, following a period where they had been temporarily restricted. The restoration comes after Kejriwal publicly questioned Meta’s decision and criticized the company’s customer service approach.
Kejriwal’s Public Complaint Goes Viral
On Thursday, Kejriwal took to X to voice his concerns about the sudden limitation on his Facebook account. He directly addressed Meta and Meta India in his post, questioning the rationale behind the restriction. His complaint highlighted the lack of communication from Meta’s India office regarding the account limitation.
Why have you restricted my account? Verbal enquiries at your India office revealed that my account has been restricted in India and is unavailable in India. Why? No one in your office is giving any reasons. No one is suggesting how restrictions can be removed. All emails written have elicited no response other than routine acknowledgement.
He further criticized the level of customer service, noting that the lack of explanation was frustrating. Kejriwal also made a pointed remark about Meta’s relationship with Indian leadership, using the phrase that would become the focus of media attention.
Thats pretty bad service. Don’t bow down to our Prime Minister so much. Else he will allow u to run only his own account in India.
Broader Context of Meta’s India Challenges
This incident arrives as Meta faces increased regulatory attention in India. The technology giant is currently under investigation regarding advertisements on Instagram that allegedly featured Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM). According to a media report, Meta has confirmed that the disputed content received paid promotions for specific audience segments.
Additionally, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has offered apologies to the central government concerning Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), deepfake content, and various operational mistakes on the platform. Sources indicate that officials made it clear to Meta representatives that the company does not qualify under the Intermediary definition. Consequently, the safe harbour provisions of the IT Act may not apply, as Meta actively selects which content reaches users.
Modi Video Incident Also Under Scrutiny
Senior Meta executives were previously called in by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) after the company removed a reel posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meta later clarified that the removal resulted from a technical error rather than a policy decision.
On Wednesday, a Meta delegation headed by Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan held discussions with MeitY Secretary S Krishnan. During the meeting, Kaplan outlined the circumstances that led to the video being taken down. This engagement followed demands from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology for Zuckerberg to formally apologize regarding the controversy surrounding the Prime Minister’s video.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Kejriwal’s Facebook account restricted? The restriction occurred recently, with Kejriwal making his public complaint on Thursday. The exact date of restriction was not specified in his initial post.
What platforms were affected by the restriction? Both Facebook and Instagram accounts of Arvind Kejriwal were temporarily unavailable to users in India during the restriction period.
Has Meta provided any official explanation? Meta has not provided a detailed public explanation for Kejriwal’s specific case, though they acknowledged his emails with routine responses.
What is the connection to other Meta controversies in India? This incident adds to Meta’s ongoing challenges in India, including the CSAM investigation, the Modi video removal, and questions about intermediary status under the IT Act.
How can users access Kejriwal’s social media now? Users across India can now view both his Facebook and Instagram profiles without any restrictions. The status page previously showed “Unavailable in some locations” but this has been resolved.
