“My committee will summon Meta for this misinformation. Incorrect information tarnishes the image of any democratic country,” Dubey wrote on social media platform X. He added that Meta must apologise to the Indian Parliament and the people of the country for the perceived error.
Zuckerberg’s Statement Sparks Controversy
The controversy emerged after Zuckerberg discussed post-Covid political outcomes during a podcast. Reflecting on global elections in 2024, he remarked, “It’s not just the US… In all these countries, India, just like a ton of countries that had elections, the incumbents basically lost every single one.” He attributed this phenomenon to a global erosion of trust in governments due to their handling of Covid-19, inflation, and related economic policies.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Calls Out Meta
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also criticised Zuckerberg, calling his assertions factually incorrect and disappointing. Vaishnaw pointed out that India’s 2024 elections saw a decisive victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA), reaffirming public trust in the government.
“As the world’s largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. The people of India reaffirmed their trust in the NDA led by PM Modi’s leadership. Mr. Zuckerberg’s claim that most incumbent governments, including India, lost post-Covid is factually incorrect,” Vaishnaw stated.
The minister lauded the Modi government’s pandemic management efforts, highlighting initiatives such as free food distribution for 800 million people, administering 2.2 billion free vaccines, and extending aid to other nations. “From leading India as the fastest-growing major economy to achieving a historic third-term victory, PM Modi’s leadership is a testament to good governance and public trust,” Vaishnaw said.
Dubey and Vaishnaw Demand Accountability
Both Dubey and Vaishnaw emphasized the need for Meta to maintain factual accuracy and credibility, particularly given its global influence. “It’s disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Let’s uphold facts and credibility,” Vaishnaw urged in his statement.
Next Steps
The parliamentary committee on communications and information technology is expected to summon Meta executives for clarification. This development underscores growing scrutiny of tech giants and their role in shaping narratives around democracy and governance.
Meta is yet to issue an official response to the statements made by the BJP leaders.
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