The opposition INDIA bloc has formally written to the CEOs of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, and Google, Sundar Pichai, expressing concerns about their social media platforms’ purported involvement in exacerbating ‘communal hatred’ within the country. The bloc has urged the platforms to uphold neutrality in the forthcoming elections.
These letters were prompted by a report in The Washington Post, which alleged bias on the part of Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube in favor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Narendra Modi government.
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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge shared the letter to Zuckerberg on X (formerly Twitter) and commented, ‘The INDIA bloc’s letter to Facebook’s Mr. Mark Zuckerberg (@finkd) references The Washington Post’s extensive investigations, suggesting that Meta is potentially contributing to social discord and the incitement of communal tensions in India.’
In the letter addressed to Zuckerberg, the opposition parties highlighted that the India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) comprises 28 political parties in India, collectively representing the opposition coalition and governing in 11 states, collectively representing nearly half of the Indian electorate.
The letter states, ‘You may be aware of recent revelations made by The Washington Post regarding the roles of WhatsApp and Facebook in supporting the communal hatred campaign of the ruling BJP. Specifically, the article provides details on how BJP members and supporters employ WhatsApp groups for divisive propaganda.’
Letter by INDIA parties to @Facebook's Mr. Mark Zuckerberg (@finkd) citing the exhaustive investigations by the @washingtonpost that Meta is culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India.
[Letter Below] pic.twitter.com/2wnUa5xHbz
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) October 12, 2023
The letter goes on to reference another article titled ‘Under India’s pressure, Facebook let propaganda and hate speech thrive,’ which, with supporting evidence, elucidates the apparent bias exhibited by Facebook India executives in favor of the ruling government. The opposition had been aware of these allegations for some time, having raised them on multiple occasions.
The letter contends, ‘It is abundantly clear from The Washington Post’s comprehensive investigations that Meta may be complicit in fueling social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India. Additionally, we possess data indicating algorithmic moderation and suppression of content from opposition leaders on your platform, coupled with the promotion of content from the ruling party.’
It further asserts, ‘Such overt partisanship and favoritism toward a particular political group by a private foreign corporation can be viewed as interference in India’s democratic processes, a situation that we, as the INDIA alliance, take very seriously.’
The letter concludes with an urgent plea, ‘Given the forthcoming national elections in 2024, we earnestly and urgently implore you to take these matters seriously and ensure that Meta’s operations in India remain impartial, refraining from contributing either knowingly or unknowingly to social unrest or the distortion of India’s cherished democratic principles.’
The letter was signed by AICC general secretary organization K.C. Venugopal.
