'Cannot allow manipulation of our hard-earned democracy': Rahul Gandhi on Facebook row

Highlighting Congress' letter to Facebook, former Party President Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday, tweeted that manipulation of 'our hard-earned democracy' should t be allowed. Gandhi's remarks came in reference to Wall Street Journal's report alleging Facebook's interference in Indian electoral processes. Congress MP from Wayan tweeted that social media giant's involvement in allegedly peddling fake and hate news 'needs to be questioned' by all Indians.

Congress writes to Zuckerberg

Earlier in day, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal wrote to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg demanding a probe into conduct of social media platform and ir operations following controversy over a western media report claiming that Facebook did t apply its 'hate speech rules' on BJP leers. In his letter, Venugopal suggested setting up a high-level inquiry into Facebook India leership team and submit a report to Facebook Inc. within a reasonable period of time. 

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Congress leer also demanded to publish and make transparent all instances of hate speech posts since 2014 that were allowed on platform. " article mentions of at least three or politicians that were wilfully permitted by Facebook India. On a closer perusal, you will find thousands of such insidious posts", he said in letter.

Meanwhile, soon after report by WSJ, Congress has also hinted at a Parliamentary probe into issue. Highlighting similarity of issue with alleged Russian interference in US elections, Congress' Manish Tewari h urged Standing Committee on IT heed by Shashi Tharoor to take up issue. 

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WSJ's report

American newspaper, Wall Street Journal has claimed that BJP's Telangana MLA T Raja Singh h often me communal and incendiary speeches that were posted on Facebook, clashing with company's hate speech rules. Despite fact that posts allegedly violated Facebook's hate-speech rules and qualified as dangerous, it refrained from punishing violations. report mentioned Facebook India's top public-policy Executive Ankhi Das who has claimed that punishing violations by BJP would 'dam company's business prospects in India'. Apart from Singh, three or BJP leers or Hindutva groups were allegedly flagged by Facebook for hate-speech. 

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