Meta’s ‘what to show whom’ system under govt scrutiny over IT Act intermediary status

The Centre is examining whether Meta’s recommendation systems and paid content promotion are compatible with its status as an intermediary under Indian law, with the government focusing on whether the platform effectively acts as a publisher by deciding “what content is shown to whom”, government sources said.

The issue came into focus during multiple meetings between government officials and Meta, as the Centre questioned whether a platform that actively determines what users see can continue to claim the legal protections available to intermediaries under the Information Technology Act.