Meta India Head Faces FIR Over AI-Generated Videos of PM Modi on Social Media

The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Meta India head Arun Srinivas and several social media users. The FIR concerns the circulation of AI-generated videos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Facebook and Instagram. Investigators are examining the origin of these videos and whether they misled the public.

Key Highlights

• FIR filed against Meta India head Arun Srinivas over AI-generated videos of PM Modi.
• Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police investigating origin and spread of morphed videos on Facebook and Instagram.
• Meta's content moderation and safeguards under scrutiny by authorities.
• Government recently summoned Meta executives over restriction of PM Modi's Facebook post.

Details of the FIR and Investigation

Police sources confirmed that the FIR relates to AI-generated morphed videos of PM Modi shared on Meta-owned platforms. The investigation is focused on how these videos originated and spread across social media. Authorities are also looking into Meta's safeguards to determine if the company took adequate steps to limit the distribution of such content.

The probe will assess the involvement of individuals accused of creating, uploading, or sharing the manipulated videos. Investigators are considering possible violations under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. The investigation is still in its early stages, and no final conclusions have been reached.

Meta has not issued a public statement regarding the FIR as of now. However, a Meta representative has reportedly met with investigators to explain the company's content moderation and compliance procedures.

Background on Arun Srinivas and Meta's Operations

Arun Srinivas was appointed as Meta India head last year. He oversees Meta's strategy and operations in the country. Srinivas joined Meta in September 2020, initially leading the Global Business Group for India. In this role, he managed revenue from large advertisers and agencies across sectors.

In September 2022, Srinivas became Director and Head of the Ads Business in India. He led revenue functions for advertisers of all sizes and managed sales, solutions, measurement, and creative teams. Before joining Meta, he worked at Ola, Reebok, and Hindustan Unilever. Srinivas holds a PGDM in Marketing from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and an undergraduate degree in Physics from the University of Madras.

Recent Government Actions and Regulatory Context

This FIR comes as Meta faces increased scrutiny from the Indian government. Recently, the Centre summoned Meta executives after a Facebook post by PM Modi was briefly restricted. The post, originally uploaded on Instagram on July 23 and shared on Facebook, was Modi's first direct selfie video aimed at Gen Z during the CJP protests. Meta attributed the restriction to a technical glitch in its AI moderation systems. However, IT Secretary S Krishnan stated that the government's concerns remain unresolved and further details have been requested.

Authorities have also taken action against other digital platforms. The Centre ordered GitHub to block BitChat, a Bluetooth messaging app reportedly used by CJP protesters to bypass internet shutdowns. Indian officials have previously asked Meta to pause the rollout of WhatsApp’s username feature, citing risks of phishing and impersonation. Ahead of the NEET retest in June, the government temporarily blocked Telegram in India.

A parliamentary panel has summoned representatives from major social media companies and officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The meeting, scheduled for August 3, will address regulation of digital platforms in India.