New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi accused social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and said they are working to shape the narrative of political parties. She said that it has come to notice time and again that global social media companies are not providing equal opportunities to all parties.
Addressing the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, she spoke about the rising danger of social media being abused to hack democracy.
She said, “Global companies like Facebook and Twitter are used increasingly to shape political narratives by leaders, political parties. It has repeatedly come to public notice that global social media companies are not providing a level playing field to all political parties.”
Speaking of how Facebook plays with its own rules, she said “Last year, for instance, The Wall Street Journal reported how Facebook’s own hate speech rules are being bent to favor the politicians of the ruling party.”
“Recently, Al Jazeera and the reporters collective have demonstrated how toxic eco-system of proxy advertiser posing as news media, is flourishing on Facebook by passing election laws of our nation, breaking Facebook’s own rules, and completely suppressing the voice of those who are speaking up against the government,” she added.
She said that minds of citizens are being filled with fake information through emotionally charged disinformation. She said: “The manner in which social harmony is disturbed, by Facebook with the connivance of the ruling establishment is dangerous for our democracy. Young and old minds are being filled with fake information through emotionally charged disinformation and proxy advertising companies like Facebook, are aware of this and profiting from it.”
The Congress president stressed that this report shows a growing nexus between big corporations and ruling establishments, and global social media giants like Facebook.
On being questioned about her demand, she urged to put an end to the systematic influence and interference of Facebook and other social media giants, in the electoral politics of the world’s largest democracy.
She said, “We need to protect our democracy and social harmony regardless of who is in power.”
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