Congress writes to Zuckerberg; wants Facebook India probed for alleged 'hate speech' bias

Congress on Tuesday, August 18, has written a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg demanding a probe into conduct of Facebook India's leadership and ir operations following controversy over a western media report claiming that Facebook did t apply its 'hate speech rules' on BJP leaders.

'Congress repeatedly raised issue of bias'

AICC general secretary KC Venugopal in his letter to Mark Zuckerberg said that Congress repeatedly raised issue of bias with many Facebook executives. letter furr suggested to set up a high-level inquiry into Facebook India leadership team and submit a report to Facebook Inc. within a reasonable period of time. Congress has also alleged that western media article has suggested that Facebook India's leadership has provided BJP with favourable treatment on election-related issues.

"Set up a high-level inquiry by facebook headquarters into Facebook India leadership team and ir operations and submitt a report to board of facebook Inc. within a reasonable period of time such as one/two months. This report should also be made public", letter stated.

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'Publish all hate speech post'

Congress leader 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.

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Claims made in report

American newspaper in its report dated August 14 claimed that BJP's Telangana MLA T Raja Singh had often made communal and incendiary speeches that were posted on Facebook, clashing with company's hate speech rules. report furr claims that in spite of posts allegedly violating Facebook's hate-speech rules and qualifying as dangerous, Facebook India's top public-policy executive Ankhi Das had claimed that punishing violations by BJP would 'dam company's business prospects in India'. 

Apart from Singh, three or BJP leaders or Hindutva groups were allegedly flagged by Facebook for hate-speech. report furr points out that Facebook has faced issues to launch its telecommunications service - Free Basics in 2016 from Modi government, as it violated net neutrality. BJP has rubbished Congress' attack, highlighting Cambridge Analytica scandal from before elections.

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