Facebook disrespecting democratic process, India writes to Zukarberg

India has raised the issue of free speech with social media giant Facebook, alleging that the platform is the “latest tool” being used to create “internal divisions and social disturbances” by vested groups. Union Minister for IT and Communications  Ravi Shankar Prasad has written  to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg saying there was a "concerted effort" by FB India officials to delete pages of right-of-centre ideology.

In his letter Parasd alleged that employees of the social media giant "are on record abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior cabinet ministers" while still working in Facebook India and managing important positions.There were attempts through "selective leaks" to portray a different reality,he said. The union minister said there have been "multiple instances" where Facebook was used by "anarchic and radical" elements but no meaningful action against them have been taken.

The IT minister has also flagged the issue of FB employees running campaigns to discredit the democratic process of the country. “Individuals working in any organisation may have their individual likes or dislikes, but that must not have any bearing on the public policies and performance of the organisation. Prasad said that the Facebook India managing director and other senior officials belong to a "particular political belief," adding that people from this particular political predisposition have been overwhelmingly defeated by the people in successive free and fair elections.

While BJP accused the social media giant of censoring nationalist voices, opposition Congress seized on the report that alleged that Facebook's content policies favour the ruling party.Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the Modi government has come to the rescue of "prejudiced offenders" of Facebook India as the "ugly nexus" is exposed.