The Indian government’s efforts to curb the spread of misinformation on social media have led to increased scrutiny over Meta India’s handling of content related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A case has been registered against the company’s head, V Aravind Babu, in Hyderabad, with police preparing to send a notice regarding the matter.
The incident began when multiple videos were posted on Facebook that depicted Modi in an “abusive manner”. The videos sparked widespread outrage and protests across India, particularly among students who took to the streets to express their discontent. As a result of these events, Meta Platforms was summoned by India’s IT ministry for explaining its actions at the highest level.
The summons comes as tensions between Meta and the Indian government continue to rise over content tied to Modi. In recent weeks, Facebook has faced criticism for restricting posts related to the prime minister, with many accusing the company of not doing enough to address concerns about online harassment and hate speech.
According to sources close to the matter, a top official at India’s IT ministry had expressed frustration with Meta’s handling of the situation, stating that the government wanted the company to explain its actions. The official also mentioned that Facebook had briefly restricted a Modi post last week, which was later removed due to technical issues.
Meta Platforms has not commented on the incident or the summons issued by the Indian government. However, in response to concerns about online harassment and hate speech, Meta has implemented various measures aimed at reducing these types of incidents on its platform.
The case against V Aravind Babu highlights the complexities surrounding content moderation on social media platforms like Facebook. As India’s biggest market for the company, Meta faces significant pressure to balance free expression with the need to prevent harm and promote a safe online environment.
Source: Dawn
Based on reporting from Dawn.
