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New Delhi:
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi this morning but once more accused Facebook and WhatsApp of attacking “India’s democracy and social harmony”, days after his occasion wrote to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg – for the second time in two weeks – over the social media big’s alleged bias in the direction of the BJP.
“International media have fully exposed Facebook’s & WhatsApp’s brazen assault on India’s democracy & social harmony. No one, let alone a foreign company, can be allowed to interfere in our nation’s affairs. They must be investigated immediately & when found guilty, punished (sic),” the ex-Congress chief tweeted alongside with a report by the Wall Street Journal.
The newest report by the international publication claims that Facebook govt Ankhi Das did not apply hate speech guidelines on members of the ruling BJP.
Ms Das, head of public coverage in Facebook India, “made internal postings over several years” detailing her help for the ruling BJP and disparaging its fundamental rival, in line with the report.
International media have absolutely uncovered Facebook’s & WhatsApp’s brazen assault on India’s democracy & social concord.
No one, not to mention a international firm, could be allowed to intrude in our nation’s affairs.
They should be investigated instantly & when discovered responsible, punished. pic.twitter.com/5tRw797L2y
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 1, 2020
The Congress, in its letter to Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday, sought particulars on steps being taken to analyze the alleged bias. “We urge you to let us know what steps your company is planning to take to investigate these matters… will also be pursuing legislative and judicial actions in India to ensure a foreign company cannot continue to cause social disharmony in our nation for pursuit of private profits,” the letter stated.
The identical day, Mr Gandhi had shared an article by Time Magazine as he stated it “exposes WhatsApp-BJP nexus”.
“America’s Time magazine exposes WhatsApp-BJP nexus: Used by 40 crore Indians, WhatsApp also wants to be used for making payments for which Modi government’s approval is needed. Thus, BJP has a hold over WhatsApp”,” the 50-year-old Congress MP’s tweet read.
Facebook India is already scheduled to appear before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology – which is chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor – on Wednesday, to answer questions raised by the Journal’s article.
BJP’s Nishikant Dubey last month wrote to Lok Speaker Om Birla, demanding that Mr Tharoor be removed from the panel.
Last month, amid political row, Facebook had said that it is an “open clear and non-partisan platform”. “Facebook is and at all times has been an open, clear and non-partisan platform the place individuals can categorical themselves freely,” Facebook India vice president and managing director Ajit Mohan said in a post.
The BJP, dismissing the allegations, had earlier cited the three-year-old Cambridge Analytica data scandal. “You had been caught red-handed in alliance with Cambridge Analytica & Facebook to weaponise information earlier than the elections & now have the gall to query us?” Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had tweeted last month.
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