Opposition coalition accuses social media giants of supporting "hate project" in India

Social media companies WhatsApp, Facebook, and Google have been accused by the Opposition coalition INDIA of supporting the "hate project" in India. They have stated that this amounts to undermining democracy and will not be allowed.

The CEOs of Google and Meta Inc., which runs Facebook and WhatsApp, have received letters from the combine informing them that they cannot ignore the concerns of a group that governs 11 states and represents half of India. Similar concerns had also been expressed by the Congress in a previous letter to these platforms.

The similar-sounding letters added, "You may be aware of the recent exposes by the Washington Post newspaper about the role of WhatsApp and Facebook in aiding the communal hatred campaign of the ruling BJP."

In particular, the piece provides information on how BJP members and sympathizers use WhatsApp groups to spread this disgusting, deeply dividing propaganda throughout the community.

"The Post has explained with evidence the obvious partisanship by Facebook India executives towards the ruling regime in another article titled 'Under India's pressure, Facebook let propaganda and hate speech thrive.'" We in the Opposition have known about this for a considerable amount of time, and we have even brought it up multiple times in the past.

"It is very clear from these exhaustive investigations by the Washington Post that Meta is culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India," the opposition alliance claimed, citing the general election of the following year.

"In addition, our data indicates that content from opposition leaders is being suppressed and moderated by algorithms on your platform, all the while promoting content from the ruling party."

"We in the INDIA alliance will not take lightly such flagrant partisanship and bias towards one political formation by a private foreign company, as it amounts to interfering in India's democracy."

In the letters, it is asked that these social media sites take these concerns seriously and take prompt action to make sure that their operations in India stay impartial and do not unintentionally or purposely contribute to social unrest or distort India's democratic ideals.

It is strange that we are writing this letter during Mahatma Gandhi's birth month, the greatest advocate of social harmony and nonviolence in history. We have no doubt that Meta and you share the Mahatma's desire for a peaceful India. The letters stated, "We look forward to your complete assistance in this regard.

Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Derek O'Brien (Trinamul), Omar Abdullah (National Conference), Mehbooba Mufti (PDP), Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi (both Congress), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT), Hemant Soren (JMM), T.R. Baalu (DMK), Lalan Singh (JDU), Sitaram Yechury (CPM), D. Raja (CPI), Omar Abdullah (National Conference), and Mallikarjun Kharge (PDP) all signed the letters. Not among the signatories were the Aam Aadmi Party and a few smaller parties.