Centre asks Meta to prevent amplifying limited narratives

New Delhi: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a significant advisory to Meta, urging the social media giant to prevent algorithmic bias, curb misinformation, and enhance content moderation to maintain public order and social tranquillity. The government has asked Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook, to ensure that its recommendation systems do not result in "disproportionate exposure of users to a single or limited set of narratives", and to step up checks on content that could cause public disorder or incite violence or other unlawful activity. The advisory has asked Meta to undertake appropriate measures to provide adequate context in relation to photographs, videos, graphics, or other content depicting ongoing public events.

Although the advisory does not identify any specific incident that prompted its issuance, it comes amid protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party and opposition parties in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In the advisory, Meta has also been asked to review its recommendation and content-ranking mechanisms to ensure that potentially misleading, manipulated or out-of-context content is not disproportionately amplified or repeatedly recommended to users.

"... ensure that recommendation systems do not result in disproportionate exposure of users to a single or limited set of narratives, and endeavour to provide appropriate diversity of relevant and credible information," it said, while seeking the strengthening of mechanisms for rapid identification, review and escalation of content, which is gaining significant reach through recommendation systems and has the potential to cause widespread public confusion, apprehension, violence or disturbance of public order. When contacted, IT Ministry sources said the ministry had reports from agencies that Meta platforms were not promoting all narratives equally, with their algorithms appearing to favour one kind of content over others.

In its advisory, MeitY also told Meta to ensure timely cooperation with law enforcement and other authorised government agencies, including furnishing information or assistance in accordance with applicable law and within the timelines prescribed under the IT Rules, 2021.

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