Facebook Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==== Anti-Muslim propaganda and Hindu nationalism in India ==== A 2019 book titled ''The Real Face of Facebook in India'', co-authored by the journalists [[Paranjoy Guha Thakurta]] and Cyril Sam, alleged that Facebook helped enable and benefited from the rise of [[Narendra Modi]]'s [[Hindu nationalism|Hindu nationalist]] [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) in [[India]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Past and Future of Facebook and BJP's Mutually Beneficial Relationship|url=https://thewire.in/politics/bjp-facebook-india-modi|website=The Wire}}</ref> Ankhi Das, Facebook's policy director for India and South and Central Asia, apologized publicly in August 2020 for sharing a Facebook post that called Muslims in India a "degenerate community". She said she shared the post "to reflect my deep belief in celebrating feminism and civic participation".<ref>{{cite web|title=A Facebook Executive Who Shared An Anti-Muslim Post Has Apologized To Employees|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/facebook-executive-apologies-anti-muslim-post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426173931/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/facebook-executive-apologies-anti-muslim-post|archive-date=April 26, 2023|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=BuzzFeed News|date=August 24, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> She is reported to have prevented action by Facebook against anti-Muslim content<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Ellis-Petersen|first1=Hannah|last2=Rahman|first2=Shaikh Azizur|date=September 1, 2020|title=Facebook faces grilling by MPs in India over anti-Muslim hate speech|language=en-GB|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/01/facebook-faces-grilling-by-mps-in-india-over-anti-muslim-hate-speech|access-date=September 2, 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="The Wire" /> and supported the BJP in internal Facebook messages.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Horwitz|first1=Jeff|last2=Purnell|first2=Newley|date=August 30, 2020|title=Facebook Executive Supported India's Modi, Disparaged Opposition in Internal Messages|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-executive-supported-indias-modi-disparaged-opposition-in-internal-messages-11598809348|access-date=September 1, 2020|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New Report Says Facebook's Ankhi Das Supported Modi, Hoped for BJP's Victory|url=https://thewire.in/tech/facebook-ankhi-das-modi-bjp-support-wsj-new-report|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=The Wire}}</ref> In 2020, Facebook executives overrode their employees' recommendations that the BJP politician [[T. Raja Singh]] should be banned from the site for [[Hate speech laws in India|hate speech]] and rhetoric that could lead to violence. Singh had said on Facebook that [[Rohingya people|Rohingya Muslim immigrants]] should be shot and had threatened to destroy [[mosque]]s. Current and former Facebook employees told ''The Wall Street Journal'' that the decision was part of a pattern of favoritism by Facebook toward the BJP as it seeks more business in India.<ref name="The Wire">{{cite web|title=Watch {{!}} Why Did Facebook Not Remove BJP-Linked Anti-Muslim Hate Posts?|url=https://thewire.in/video/watch-facebook-bjp-hate-posts-wall-street-journal-raja-singh|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=The Wire}}</ref> Facebook also took no action after BJP politicians made posts accusing Muslims of intentionally spreading [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19]], an employee said.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Purnell|first1=Newley|last2=Horwitz|first2=Jeff|date=August 14, 2020|title=Facebook's Hate-Speech Rules Collide With Indian Politics|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-hate-speech-india-politics-muslim-hindu-modi-zuckerberg-11597423346|access-date=August 16, 2020|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> On August 31, 2020, the [[Delhi Legislative Assembly|Delhi Assembly]] began investigating whether Facebook bore blame for the [[2020 Delhi riots|2020 religious riots]] in the city, claiming it had found Facebook "prima facie guilty of a role in the violence".<ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=August 31, 2020|title=Assembly panel alleges role of Facebook in Delhi riots|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/assembly-panel-alleges-role-of-facebook-in-delhi-riots/article32488223.ece|access-date=September 2, 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Deol|first=Taran|date=August 31, 2020|title=Delhi assembly panel wants Facebook named co-accused in communal riots, hints at 'conspiracy'|url=https://theprint.in/india/governance/delhi-assembly-panel-wants-facebook-named-co-accused-in-communal-riots-hints-at-conspiracy/492793/|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref> On September 12, 2020, a Delhi Assembly committee said in a statement that it had asked Facebook India head Ajit Mohan to appear before it on September 15, leading to Facebook objecting and moving the [[Supreme Court of India]] against the decision.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 12, 2020|title=Delhi city lawmakers summon Facebook India chief over February riots|language=en|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-facebook-idUSKBN2630N6|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=September 23, 2020|title=Facebook India moves supreme court against Delhi assembly panel summons|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/facebook-india-moves-supreme-court-against-delhi-assembly-panel-summons/story-exrgUJRGksKVLeDlUsoMWL.html|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> On September 15, Facebook skipped the Delhi Assembly panel hearing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Facebook Skips Delhi Assembly Panel Hearing, "Insulting," Fume Members|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/facebook-to-be-issued-final-warning-by-delhi-assembly-panel-after-executives-skip-hearing-2295583|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> On September 20, the Delhi Assembly panel issued a new notice asking Facebook to appear before it on September 23.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 20, 2020|title=Delhi Assembly panel issues fresh notice of appearance to Facebook India VP|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-assembly-panel-issues-fresh-notice-of-appearance-to-facebook-india-vp-6603758/|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> On September 22, Facebook India vice-president and managing director Ajit Mohan moved the Supreme Court against the summons of the Delhi Assembly Committee.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 22, 2020|title=Facebook India VP moves Supreme Court against Delhi Assembly panel summoning him|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/fb-india-vp-moves-supreme-court-against-delhi-assembly-panel-summoning-him-11600785870396.html|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=mint|language=en}}</ref> On September 23, the Supreme Court granted him relief and ordered a stay to the summons, with the Central government later backing the decision.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 23, 2020|title=Delhi riots {{!}} Supreme Court grants relief to Facebook official|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delhi-riots-no-coercive-action-against-facebook-vp-till-oct-15-over-assembly-panel-summons-says-sc/article32677366.ece|access-date=July 5, 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=September 23, 2020|title=SC orders stay on summons to Facebook India VβP by Delhi Assembly panel on riots|work=ThePrint|url=https://theprint.in/judiciary/sc-orders-stay-on-summons-to-facebook-india-v-p-by-delhi-assembly-panel-on-riots/509050/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Centre backs Facebook in SC row with Delhi Assembly over summons|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/centre-backs-facebook-in-sc-row-with-delhi-assembly-over-summons/articleshow/78684769.cms|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> A former Facebook employee told a Delhi Assembly panel on November 13 that the violence could have been 'easily averted' if the social media giant had acted in a 'proactive and prompt manner'.<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 13, 2020|title=Delhi riots could have been averted if firm had acted: Ex-Facebook employee|work=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/delhi-riots-could-have-been-averted-if-firm-had-acted-ex-facebook-employee-120111300137_1.html|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> On December 3, the Delhi Assembly moved the Supreme Court for intervention in the case.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Delhi Assembly peace panel moves SC for intervention in Facebook VP Ajit Mohan's case|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/delhi-assembly-peace-panel-moves-sc-for-intervention-in-facebook-vp-ajit-mohans-case/articleshow/79550742.cms|access-date=July 9, 2021}}</ref> On February 4, 2021, the Delhi Assembly panel issued a fresh notice to Facebook India to testify on the riots, avoiding specific notice to Mohan, by asking a senior, responsible officer from the company to appear before the panel.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 5, 2021|title=Facebook gets new notice to appear before Delhi Assembly committee probing riots|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/facebook-gets-new-notice-to-appear-before-delhi-assembly-committee-probing-riots-101612468672035.html|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> The Union government submitted in the Supreme Court that Facebook could not be made accountable before any state assembly and the committee formed was unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 18, 2021|title='Facebook, Twitter can't be accountable to state assemblies': Centre to SC|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/facebook-twitter-can-t-be-accountable-to-state-assemblies-government-101613610284320.html|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=[Delhi Riots] Committee formed by Delhi Assembly to probe social media giants' omissions unconstitutional: Centre, Facebook tell Supreme Court|url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/peace-harmony-committee-constituted-delhi-state-assembly-probe-delhi-riots-unconstitutional-centre-facebook-supreme-court|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=Bar and Bench β Indian Legal news|date=February 2, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> On February 24, Mohan challenged summons issued by the Delhi assembly for failing to appear before it as a witness in connection with the 2020 riots in the Supreme Court, saying that the 'right to silence' is a virtue in present 'noisy times' and the legislature had no authority to examine him in a law and order case. The Supreme Court reserved its judgment for the case.<ref>{{cite web|title="Expansion Of Power Through Backdoor": Facebook Boss On Delhi Summons|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/facebook-md-ajit-mohan-to-supreme-court-right-to-silence-is-virtue-in-noisy-times-2377893|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> On July 8, the Supreme Court refused to quash the summons and asked Facebook asked to appear before the Delhi assembly panel.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 8, 2021|title=Facebook asked to appear before Delhi assembly panel, Supreme Court refuses to quash summons|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-riots-sc-rejects-facebook-india-vp-ajit-mohan-plea-summons-assembly-committee-7395029/|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> On September 23, 2023, it was reported that Facebook had delayed for about a year when in 2021, it removed a network of accounts ran by India's [[Chinar Corps]] which spread disinformation that would put Kashmiri journalists in danger. The delay and the previously not publicized takedown action were due a fear that its local employees would be targeted by authorities, and that it would hurt business prospects in the country.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Menn |first1=Joseph |last2=Shih |first2=Gerry |date=September 26, 2023 |title=Under India's pressure, Facebook let propaganda and hate speech thrive |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/26/india-facebook-propaganda-hate-speech/ |url-access=registration}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! 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