Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has apologised for the presence of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), deepfake content and other operational lapses on the company's platforms, as Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw held tough discussions with Meta officials over content moderation and platform safety. The government made clear that Meta cannot be classified as an "intermediary" under India's Information Technology Act if it actively determines the kind of content users receive, and questioned Meta's eligibility for safe harbour protection. Meta admitted the presence of illegal content and acknowledged that paid promotions were used to target specific audiences. Engagement intensified over the past three days, with Meta representatives meeting IT Ministry officials on August 3, the IT Secretary on August 5, and Minister Vaishnaw later the same day. Vaishnaw reportedly delivered a stern message, saying the government would not tolerate the spread of illegal and harmful content, and challenged Meta over alleged violations of Indian laws and revenue generation from such content. The discussions come amid growing government scrutiny of harmful online content and follow a three-day ultimatum from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology for Zuckerberg to apologise and take action over the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video published on July 23. The committee also warned major social media platforms, including Google, YouTube, X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and S.