Parliament tightens scrutiny on Big Tech as social media accountability takes centrestage

Social media platforms are set to face fresh parliamentary scrutiny as the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has summoned representatives from Meta, Google, X and Snapchat to appear on August 3. Officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Ministry of Home Affairs will also participate in the meeting, which will focus on the regulation of social and digital platforms.

Chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, the committee is expected to examine how platforms safeguard the privacy of users, particularly women, children, farmers, rural communities and other vulnerable groups, while addressing their role in maintaining public order. The discussions are also likely to cover content moderation practices, platform accountability and compliance with India's digital regulations.

The summons comes at a time when concerns around deepfakes, misinformation and AI-generated content are escalating globally. With social media increasingly serving as a primary source of news and information for millions of Indians, the risks posed by manipulated videos, impersonation and algorithm-driven amplification have grown significantly. 

Deepfakes, in particular, have emerged as a major challenge, blurring the line between authentic and fabricated content and making it harder for users to distinguish fact from fiction.

As public reliance on digital platforms continues to deepen, the parliamentary review signals a broader shift in regulatory focus—from merely enabling online innovation to ensuring accountability, transparency and trust in India's rapidly evolving digital information ecosystem.