India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued an advisory to Meta, urging the social media giant to revise its algorithms to avoid disproportionate exposure of users to limited perspectives, especially regarding sensitive public events.
- Meta advised to diversify recommendations and avoid amplifying narrow narratives
- Focus on providing context for images and videos of ongoing public events
- Enhanced cooperation with law enforcement under IT Rules, 2021 required
What happened
On October 10, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued an advisory to Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, requesting measures to ensure that its recommendation systems do not disproportionately expose users to a limited or single set of narratives. The advisory focuses on content depicting ongoing public events and highlights concerns over misleading, manipulated, or out-of-context videos and images being prominently featured without adequate explanation.
Meta was also urged to strengthen mechanisms for rapid identification, review, and escalation of potentially harmful content that could incite violence, public disorder, or confusion. The government’s request includes reviewing content ranking algorithms and ensuring timely cooperation with law enforcement and government agencies in accordance with the Information Technology Rules, 2021.
Why it matters
The advisory arrives amid heightened political protests in Delhi involving opposition parties demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner over electoral roll revision processes. Government sources conveyed concerns that Meta’s algorithms appeared biased by favoring certain content types, which could influence public perception and escalate tensions.
Social media platforms like Meta play a critical role in shaping public discourse in India’s vast digital ecosystem. Ensuring the diversity and credibility of recommended content is crucial to maintaining social tranquility and preventing the spread of misinformation that can destabilize public order.
What to watch next
Stakeholders will be closely observing how Meta responds to the advisory, including adjustments to its recommendation and content moderation systems. Effective implementation may set a precedent for how major platforms handle politically sensitive content in India, balancing freedom of expression with responsibility to prevent harm.
Further developments may include Meta’s collaboration with Indian regulators to improve transparency around content amplification and possibly new operational guidelines for social media intermediaries under Indian law. Regulatory scrutiny is likely to grow in the context of upcoming elections and other public events.