Sena drags Sushant's death case in Cong-BJP exchange over Facebook's 'hate-speech policy'

Opining on recent controversy on Facebook's hate speech policy and Rahul Gandhi's remark that Facebook is 'BJP & RSS controlled', Shiv Sena via its mouthpiece Saamana on August 18 has made a veiled attack on Centre. In its editorial, Sena said that Facebook is being used as a platform to spread enmity between Hindus and Muslims and has promoted hate speech. Claiming that tags of being a 'silent PM' on former PM Manmohan Singh were generated on Facebook, Sena seemed to blame BJP for running a digital campaign in 2014 and 2019 general elections to mark its victory.

Furrmore, dragging in mysteries surrounding Sushant Singh Rajput's case, Sena said that Facebook groups have declared mselves as investigative ncies, judges in case. Sena said that Facebook should t overlook enmity that is being brought in society using its platforms 'by members of  party in power.' Sena also claimed that Facebook has accepted that some BJP leaders used its platform for electoral gains and pressurized to t take action against m.

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Rahul Gandhi lashes out at BJP

Earlier on Monday, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleged that 'BJP & RSS controlled Facebook' while opining on a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on hate-speech on Facebook. He claimed that 'American media had finally come out with truth about Facebook'. Gandhi, who has been continually critical of Modi government alleged that BJP spread fake news and hatred through Facebook to influence electorate. Facebook has currently invested a whopping $5.7 billion in Mukesh Ambani-owned Jio platforms, raking a 9.9% stake in company.

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What does WSJ report claim?

American newspaper Wall Street Journal 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 claims that inspite 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. 

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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. report furr stated that while some of Singh's posts were removed by Facebook, social media giant has demoted Singh's account to a n-verified, ufficial account without a blue tick.Citing preferential treatment by Facebook, WSJ points to removal of thousands of Congress-linked Pakistan military posts and several BJP-linked fake news ps prior to Lok Sabha elections. While Facebook publically disclosed deletion of Congress-linked accounts, it allegedly did t disclose removal of BJP-linked posts.

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