'Don't want corporate America dictating India’s democracy': Sacked Jha slams Facebook

Suspended Congress leader Sanjay Jha on Monday criticised social media giant Facebook over alleged data manipulation, stating that Corporate America should t ‘dictate’ Indian politics.

Congress has been alleging a nexus between BJP and Facebook ever since reports indicating ties between social media platform and ruling party in India came to fore last month. Opposition party had also written to tech-giant Mark Zuckerberg after a foreign media report alleged that Facebook India had favoured BJP in contrast to its 'anti-hate speech' rules. Slamming tech-giant and BJP, Sanjay Jha said. ‘ political party should indulge in data manipulation.’

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As Facebook row began to catch heat, Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi also accused BJP of funding Facebook to manipulate data. Rajya Sabha MP alleged that digital platform hides ecomic downfall, Coronavirus tally and Chinese incursions, but pushes ‘fake narratives’ by Central government because it receives ‘big bucks’ from ruling party.

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Congress writes to Mark Zuckerberg again

Claiming that WhatsApp has been allowed by Mark Zuckerberg's India Team to be 'appropriated for hate speech,' Congress wrote its second letter to Facebook CEO within a fortnight. Citing a report by Time Magazine, Congress General Secretary wrote to Zuckerberg highlighting that re is evidence of biases and a quid-pro-quo relationship of Facebook India with ruling BJP.

Furrmore, Congress claimed, " WhatsApp platform used by millions of Indians has been willingly allowed by its team to be appropriated for hate speech and consequent of India's fabric of social harmony." 

Congress has sought Zuckerberg's reply demanding to kw steps taken by social-media giant to investigate aforementioned matters. It has also informed, through second letter, that party will pursue 'legislative and judicial actions' to ensure that a foreign company cant continue to cause 'social disharmony' in country for its 'private profits'.

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