New Delhi: Social media giant Meta is set to be summoned by a Parliamentary panel over what has been termed as “incorrect and irresponsible” remarks made by its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, regarding India’s 2024 General Elections.
The announcement was made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, via X.
Dubey stated that the panel will issue a notice to Meta, accusing it of “spreading misinformation” and demanding an apology. Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, he remarked, “Misinformation in any democratic country tarnishes its image. The organization will need to apologize to the Indian Parliament and its people for this mistake.”
The controversy stems from Zuckerberg’s comments during a podcast with Joe Rogan, where he claimed that most incumbent governments across democracies faced declining public trust during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to their defeat in the 2024 elections.
“2024 was a significant election year globally. In countries like India, the incumbents lost almost everywhere. This appears to be a global phenomenon, possibly driven by inflation, economic policies, or how governments handled COVID,” Zuckerberg said.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw refuted these claims, calling them “factually incorrect.” He noted that last year’s elections in India reaffirmed public trust in Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, as the NDA secured a historic third term.
“Modi’s decisive victory is a testament to good governance and public trust,” Vaishnaw said, urging Meta to uphold factual accuracy and credibility.
“It’s disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Meta should prioritize facts and truth,” he added.
