Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey, chair of the parliamentary standing committee on communications and information technology, announced on Tuesday that the panel will summon Meta executives over allegations of “tarnishing” India’s image. This move follows Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent comments regarding the 2024 Lok Sabha election results.
In a podcast on January 10, Zuckerberg remarked that public trust in government information declined after the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to electoral losses for incumbent governments in 2024. His statement drew sharp criticism from Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who labeled the comments as “factually incorrect” and urged Zuckerberg to “uphold facts and credibility.”
Reacting to the controversy, Dubey demanded an apology from Meta.
“My committee will summon Meta for spreading incorrect information. Misrepresenting facts about any democratic country damages its global image. Meta must apologize to the Indian Parliament and its citizens for this mistake,” Dubey posted on X.
Speaking to ANI, Dubey confirmed that the committee would summon Meta executives between January 20 and 24.
“Zuckerberg claimed that globally, incumbent governments faced backlash post-COVID, and he mentioned India in that context. His statement is concerning, especially when social media platforms already face criticism for harmful content involving women and children. By making such remarks, Zuckerberg appears to be interfering in India’s democracy and misleading the global community by falsely suggesting that the BJP or NDA lost the elections. Since Parliament represents 1.4 billion Indians, and Zuckerberg misrepresented the election outcome, we have decided to summon Meta executives. They must apologize, or the committee will recommend all possible legal action,” Dubey stated.
Dubey also noted that the committee would be on a study tour to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from January 15 to 20. He plans to consult with members during the tour and schedule Meta’s appearance between January 20 and 24. Dubey did not provide further comments when approached.
