Delhi Court orders Meta to pull altered image of woman with PM Modi

The Delhi High Court has issued a directive to Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to remove a digitally altered photograph that depicted a woman alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The order, delivered on Tuesday, requires the company to delete the image from its platforms immediately and to report compliance within 24 hours, The Hindu reported.

The contested picture, which had been circulating on social media, was identified as a morphed representation that mischaracterised the woman’s relationship with the Prime Minister. While the exact nature of the manipulation was not disclosed, the court deemed the content "objectionable" and potentially harmful to the individual's reputation and to public perception of the Prime Minister.

Justice Girish Kathpalia, presiding over the case, remarked that the matter extended beyond a private grievance, stating, "This is an extraordinary position in which the matter is not of one woman but also of the country’s Prime Minister," as quoted by The Hindu. He warned that failure to comply could lead to contempt proceedings against Meta.

India’s legal framework for online content has grown increasingly stringent in recent years. The Information Technology Act, along with various Supreme Court rulings, empowers courts to order the removal of defamatory or misleading material hosted on digital platforms. Meta has previously faced similar orders, including a 2022 directive to take down a video that allegedly defamed a political figure. These interventions reflect the government's broader effort to curb misinformation and protect personal dignity online.

The court’s decision underscores the delicate balance Meta must maintain between user-generated content and legal compliance in India’s vast digital market. With over 400 million internet users, the company faces ongoing scrutiny from regulators and the judiciary, prompting it to bolster its content‑moderation mechanisms.

Legal experts suggest that the ruling could set a precedent for future cases involving manipulated media of public officials. While the immediate impact is the removal of the specific image, the broader message reinforces that digital platforms are expected to act swiftly when content is deemed defamatory or harmful to national figures.