THE apology tendered by Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, for temporary removal of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s Facebook post is just one part of the larger story about controlling content suited to a certain narrative. Though Meta Platforms Chief Executive Mr. Mark Zuckerberg has not personally apologised for the blunder by his company, his executives found the going tough before the IT Secretary Mr. S Krishnan as well as Information Technology Minister Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw. The meetings have exposed a sinister move behind removal of the PM’s post last month which Meta had blamed on a technical glitch. The apology by Meta has now made it crystal clear that the glitch was not as simple as it was projected initially. The FB post by Mr. Modi was an address to the youth promising strict action against examination paper leaks. The PM had assured heavy crackdown on the leaks and its perpetrators. It came as a major statement by the PM as the students’ protest at Jantar Mantar was entering a critical phase. Importance of the post in the overall scheme was immense. Hence, the timing of the removal of the FB post by Meta looked highly suspicious.

 

The technical glitch cited by Meta officials is a pathetic excuse which no serious Indian worth his/her salt will accept. Meta realised its folly and immediately after facing the Government officials tendered an apology. However, the issue should not end at a ‘sorry’ by Meta Platforms. Their admission about payment of money to boost a certain type of content is a serious thing to be closely monitored by India’s IT security team. It proves direct involvement of social media platforms owned by Meta and Mr. Zuckerberg in controlling and setting a certain type of narrative. In most cases, the narrative has remained anti India and got monetary boost from forces operating from countries hosting India’s adversaries and groups. There is every reason to believe that the removal of Mr. Modi’s FB post for some time was part of a larger agenda to keep the unrest brewing among students.

 

The Indian IT personnel deserve praise for keeping a vigilant eye on Meta’s activities and flagging removal of the PM’s post. The Meta episode once again brings into focus the rampant use of social media handles and platforms to influence impressionable minds in India. Misinformation campaigns and fake news have become a serious problem for social media users even as antagonist forces are spreading blatantly wrong news and views against India and its social environment. The country has seen how fake news has led to clashes and violence in many parts as the internet was used as a potent tool to stoke fear and hatred among communities. It is the fundamental duty of social media platform handlers like Meta to monitor such content and block it after proper and urgent vetting. Unfortunately, this is not happening despite India’s Information Technology Act having provision of cooperation from digital platforms.

 

There is now need for a clear dialogue with such platforms whose algorithms actively curate, recommend and determine which users receive content. There is another angle to the entire story which gives an idea about India’s rising global stature. The Meta officials were quick to respond to the Indian Government summons and issue an apology clearly realising the important position India enjoys in the changing global order. Geopolitical reasons were instrumental in driving Meta’s outreach to the Indian Government and apology for its blunder. The issue has many complex layers including involvement of countries holding a grudge against India’s rapid rise as a global leader worth long-term friendship. There have been constant efforts to undermine India’s achievements and demean the country’s strides in information and technology by powers fearing loss of clout. The apology by Meta has laid bare the designs being used to keep India on tenterhooks.