New Delhi: The Government of India has asked Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, to ensure that its recommendation systems do not expose users disproportionately to “a single or limited set of narratives” and to strengthen checks on content that could cause public disorder, incite violence or promote other unlawful activities.
In an advisory dated October 10, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) asked Meta to provide adequate context for photographs, videos, graphics and other content depicting ongoing public events, particularly when the authenticity, date, location or circumstances of the material may not be readily apparent to users.
Although the advisory does not identify a specific incident that prompted its issuance, it comes amid protests in Delhi led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and opposition parties demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The advisory, seen by PTI, also asks Meta to review its recommendation and content-ranking mechanisms to prevent potentially misleading, manipulated or out-of-context material from being disproportionately amplified or repeatedly recommended to users.
It calls on the company to ensure that its recommendation systems do not expose users disproportionately to a narrow range of narratives and to “endeavour to provide appropriate diversity of relevant and credible information”.
The ministry has also sought stronger mechanisms for the rapid identification, review and escalation of content that gains significant reach through recommendation systems and could trigger widespread public confusion, apprehension, violence or a disturbance of public order.
IT Ministry sources said the ministry had received reports from agencies suggesting that Meta’s platforms were not promoting different narratives equally, with their algorithms appearing to favour certain kinds of content over others.
The advisory says the ministry has observed that content related to ongoing public events was being “prominently displayed and recommended to users” on Meta’s platforms.
Such material includes videos, images, statements and static graphics relating to public-order and law-and-order situations.
According to the ministry, content displayed without adequate context or amplified disproportionately “may contribute to public confusion, apprehension and disturbance of public order and social tranquillity”.
MeitY has asked Meta to pay particular attention to old, unrelated or selectively edited visuals presented as current events, as well as unverified or misleading claims about emergencies, restrictions, police action and other official measures.
It has also flagged audio-visual material relating to law-and-order situations that lacks adequate context, content likely to incite violence or other unlawful activity, and potentially misleading material that receives disproportionate amplification.
Citing the Information Technology Act, 2000, the advisory says Meta, as an intermediary, is required to exercise due diligence under the Information Technology Rules, 2021.
The rules require intermediaries to inform users about prohibited information, including content likely to cause public disorder or incite a cognisable offence relating to public order.
The advisory outlines 6 specific requests, including measures to identify and address content under the IT Rules, a review of recommendation and ranking systems, and stronger mechanisms to identify and escalate potentially harmful content gaining significant reach.
MeitY has also called for timely cooperation with law enforcement agencies and other authorised government bodies, including the provision of information or assistance in accordance with applicable law and within the timelines prescribed under the IT Rules, 2021.
The ministry said the advisory was intended to promote the responsible dissemination and recommendation of information while respecting lawful expression and legitimate public discourse.
“Meta is advised to ensure that any action taken pursuant to this advisory is consistent with the Information Technology Act, 2000, the IT Rules, 2021, and other applicable laws,” it said.
The company has been asked to take the necessary measures “with immediate effect” and inform the ministry of the action taken.
Apar Gupta, founder-director of the Internet Freedom Foundation, a digital rights advocacy group, said the advisory was not legally binding but amounted to a “continuing censorship directive”.
Gupta called on MeitY to withdraw the advisory and urged Meta to publicly disclose every takedown and instance of downranking carried out under it.
“Even this advisory, which contains phrases like content ‘without adequate context’ and periods of ‘heightened public-order sensitivity’, is not tied to any provision of the IT Act or the IT Rules,” he said.