NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — India’s Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw rejected claims made by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the outcome of India’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In a recent interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg stated that most incumbent governments around the world, including India, lost elections after the COVID-19 pandemic because of economic policies and public dissatisfaction.
Vaishnaw swiftly countered Zuckerberg’s remarks, calling them “factually incorrect.” He highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a decisive third term, with over 640 million people participating in the polls.
“From free food for 800 million to administering 2.2 billion vaccine doses and leading India as the fastest-growing major economy, PM Modi’s third-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust,” Vaishnaw said in a post on Meta-owned Facebook.
The remarks triggered a political row, with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey announcing that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology would summon Meta for spreading “disinformation.” Dubey demanded an apology from Meta, saying misinformation harms India’s democratic image.
Critics have expressed concerns over Meta’s policies on misinformation, claiming that the tech giant has political biases in its approach. The International Fact-Checking Network has warned that unchecked misinformation could lead to political instability and election interference in vulnerable nations.
Zuckerberg’s statement has attracted a lot of attention, especially since Meta is facing global scrutiny over its fact-checking policies. Meta has not yet issued an official response to the controversy.
