Meta Restricts Viral AI Video of Keralam CM Dancing Following Government Notice

Meta has restricted access in India to a viral artificial intelligence-generated video showing Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan dancing alongside Kerala State Electricity Board officials against the backdrop of recent power outages. The satirical clip, uploaded to the Instagram page 'aikavala' on Thursday, September 10, had rapidly accumulated 1.78 crore views by Sunday, September 13, according to the page operator, before platform filters blocked domestic viewing.

Creators of the digital content revealed on Sunday that the platform took action following a directive from federal authorities. According to a notification shared by the page operators, Meta stated that access was restricted in India pursuant to a formal notice issued by the Government of India. Despite the domestic block, the synthetic video remains accessible to viewers outside the country.

The AI-generated production featured depictions of Chief Minister Satheesan and electricity board officials engaging in a choreographed dance routine tied to public grievances over power supply disruptions. The lighthearted tone of the content quickly propelled it across social media feeds, driving tens of millions of interactions within days of its initial publication.

Prior to the platform restriction, the Chief Minister himself had publicly acknowledged the video during an address at an event organized by the Kerala High Court. Displaying familiarity with the viral media, Satheesan expressed amusement at the clip and remarked to the audience that he believed he could dance better than prominent south Indian entertainment and political figures, specifically naming Malayalam actor Mohanlal and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.

Abhijith, the operator of the 'aikavala' Instagram page, told media outlets that he did not believe the restriction stemmed from any grievance originating within the Chief Minister's office, noting the executive's prior public appreciation for the video. The sudden curtailment of the satirical clip has renewed discussions regarding the governance of generative media and content takedown mechanisms on major social platforms operating within the country.

The development recalls previous instances on the platform involving administrative friction over regional digital content. Earlier reporting noted that Meta had previously removed news videos critical of the state administration and Chief Minister Satheesan, citing technical reasons at the time. Following those removals, the Chief Minister's Office clarified that no takedown requests had been issued by the state executive and subsequently corresponded with the platform to seek the reinstatement of the affected posts, establishing a complex precedent for digital content moderation involving political figures in the region.