The Centre has directed Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to review its recommendation algorithms to prevent disproportionate exposure of users to a single or limited set of narratives, while strengthening safeguards against misleading content that could trigger public disorder or violence.
In an advisory dated October 10, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) asked the social media giant to ensure that photographs, videos, graphics and other material depicting ongoing public events are accompanied by adequate context, particularly when their authenticity, date, location or circumstances are unclear.
Although the advisory does not mention any specific incident, it comes amid protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and opposition parties in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
๐๐ผ๐๐ ๐ณ๐น๐ฎ๐ด๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ด๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ต๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฎ๐
According to the advisory, the ministry has observed that certain content relating to ongoing public events, including videos, images, statements and graphics concerning law-and-order situations, was being prominently displayed and recommended to users on Meta's platforms.
The ministry expressed concern that such material, when presented without adequate context or amplified disproportionately, could contribute to public confusion, apprehension and disturbances of public order.
IT Ministry sources said the government had received reports from agencies suggesting that Meta's recommendation systems were not promoting different narratives equally and appeared to favour certain categories of content.
The advisory asked Meta to review its recommendation and content-ranking mechanisms to ensure that potentially misleading, manipulated or out-of-context material is not repeatedly recommended or disproportionately amplified.
It also called on the company to provide appropriate diversity of relevant and credible information rather than exposing users predominantly to a narrow range of narratives.
๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐บ๐ถ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐
MeitY identified several categories of content requiring particular attention, including old or unrelated visuals being circulated as current events and selectively edited material that could misrepresent developments on the ground.
It also flagged unverified claims concerning emergencies, restrictions, police action and other official measures, along with audio-visual material depicting law-and-order situations without sufficient context.
The ministry urged Meta to strengthen mechanisms for rapidly identifying, reviewing and escalating content gaining significant reach through recommendation systems, particularly where it could contribute to violence, unlawful activity or widespread public confusion.
The advisory outlined six specific measures, including better identification of potentially unlawful content, stronger contextual safeguards and reviews of recommendation systems.
๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ง ๐ฟ๐๐น๐ฒ๐
Citing the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology Rules, 2021, the ministry reminded Meta of its due-diligence obligations as an intermediary.
These include informing users about categories of prohibited information, including content likely to cause public disorder or incite cognisable offences relating to public order.
Meta was also asked to cooperate promptly with law enforcement and other authorised government agencies by providing information or assistance in accordance with applicable laws and prescribed timelines.
The ministry maintained that the advisory was intended to promote responsible dissemination and recommendation of information while respecting lawful expression and legitimate public discourse.
Meta has been advised to implement necessary measures with immediate effect and inform the ministry about the action taken.
๐๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฝ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ
The advisory has drawn criticism from digital rights advocates, who fear that its broad language could encourage platforms to restrict legitimate political expression and protest-related content.
Apar Gupta, Founder Director of the Internet Freedom Foundation, said that although the advisory was not legally binding, it amounted to a "continuing censorship directive".
He argued that expressions such as content lacking adequate context and periods of heightened public-order sensitivity were not tied to specific provisions of the IT Act or the IT Rules.
Gupta called on MeitY to withdraw the advisory and demanded that Meta publicly disclose every content takedown and instance of reduced visibility carried out in response to it.
The controversy has raised questions about the extent to which government advisories should influence social media algorithms, particularly during politically sensitive demonstrations.
While the ministry has maintained that its directions are intended to safeguard public order without undermining lawful expression, digital rights advocates have warned that vague instructions could lead to restrictions on legitimate speech.
Meta has not publicly detailed what changes, if any, it will make to its recommendation systems in response to the advisory.