Meta to get parliamentary summon over Mark Zuckerberg's remarks on 2024 Indian election. | Photo-File Meta to get parliamentary summon over Mark Zuckerberg's remarks on 2024 Indian election. | Photo-File The Parliamentary Committee on Communications and Information Technology will summon Metagvg777, the parent company of Facebook, following a controversial statement by CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the 2024 general elections. This was revealed by the head of the committee and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
During a podcast appearance, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed that the incumbent government in India lost the 2024 general election due to its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My committee will summon Meta for this misinformation. Incorrect information tarnishes the image of any democratic country," Dubey said in a post on X. He further added, “The organisation will have to apologise to the Indian Parliament and the people of this country for this mistake.”
मेरी कमिटि इस ग़लत जानकारी के लिए @Meta को बुलाएगी । किसी भी लोकतांत्रिक देश की ग़लत जानकारी देश की छवि को धूमिल करती है । इस गलती के लिए भारतीय संसद से तथा यहाँ की जनता से उस संस्था को माफ़ी माँगनी पड़ेगी https://t.co/HulRl1LF4z
— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) January 14, 2025Zuckerberg's comments, made as part of a broader series of media appearances about changes to Meta'’ content policies and the removal of third-party fact-checking systems, have drawn sharp criticism from Indian politicians.
free slot playSpeaking about global elections, Zuckerberg linked the loss of incumbent governments in 2024 to public mistrust stemming from their handling of the Covid-19 crisis. “It’s not just the US. I think a lot of the people in the US focus on this as a kind of an American phenomenon, but I kind of think that the reaction to Covid probably caused a breakdown in trust in a lot of governments around the world,” Zuckerberg had said.
He continued: “2024 was a big election year around the world and all these countries, India, just like a ton of countries that had elections, and the incumbents basically lost every single one.” Zuckerberg argued that economic policies during the pandemic, including government responses to inflation and the health crisis, led to a “global decrease in trust” in governments and democratic institutions.
Zuckerberg’s remarks were immediately refuted by the Union Minister for Communications, Ashwini Vaishnaw. On Monday, Vaishnaw called out the Meta chief for spreading “misinformation” about India’s electoral process. The minister stated that India’s 2024 elections saw an overwhelming affirmation of public trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, contradicting Zuckerberg’s claims.
“As the world’s largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. The people of India reaffirmed their trust in the NDA led by PM Narendra Modi's leadership. Mr. Zuckerberg’s claim that most incumbent governments, including India in the 2024 elections, lost post-COVID is factually incorrect,” Vaishnaw wrote on X.
Highlighting the government’s response to the pandemic, the minister praised the Modi administration for its efforts, including distributing free food to 800 million people and administering 2.2 billion free vaccines. Vaishnaw also pointed to India's growing economic stature, asserting that the BJP's success in securing a third term in office was a reflection of the government's effective governance and the public's confidence.
“From free food for 800 million, 2.2 billion free vaccines, and aid to nations worldwide during COVID, to leading India as the fastest-growing major economy, PM Modi’s decisive 3rd-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust,” Vaishnaw wrote. He concluded by urging Zuckerberg to “uphold facts and credibility.”
Meta, for its part, has yet to respond officially to the summons from the parliamentary committee or the criticisms from Indian politicians.
Starting the tournament as clear favourites, Paris Olympics bronze-medallists India haven't disappointed so far, beating hosts China 3-0, Japan 5-1, trouncing Malaysia 8-1 before registering a 3-1 victory against Korea in their last match.
These two teams are meeting for the first time in the tournament in pool stage.gvg777