Nishikant Dubey, BJP MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Communication and Information Technology, announced on Tuesday (January 14) that the committee will summon Meta over its CEO Mark Zuckerberg?s controversial remarks about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Dubey stated that Zuckerberg?s comments, made during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, were "factually incorrect" and tarnished the image of India?s democracy.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) in Hindi, Dubey emphasized that Meta would need to issue an apology for spreading misinformation. He said, ?Such false statements about a democracy as vibrant as India tarnish its global reputation.?
The Controversial Remarks
During his interaction on Joe Rogan?s podcast, Zuckerberg commented on global electoral trends in 2024, stating:
?2024 was a big election year around the world and all these countries, India, had elections. The incumbents basically lost every single one. There is some sort of a global phenomenon ? whether it was because of inflation or the economic policies to deal with COVID or just how the governments dealt with COVID. It seems to have had this effect that's global.?
This statement triggered backlash, as it implied that the BJP-led NDA government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had lost the 2024 general elections?a claim that Indian officials and political leaders quickly refuted.
Official Response
Ashwini Vaishnaw, India?s Information and Broadcasting Minister, took to X to express his displeasure, calling Zuckerberg?s comments ?factually incorrect.? Vaishnaw reaffirmed that the people of India had "reaffirmed their trust in the NDA led by PM Narendra Modi Ji?s leadership" during the 2024 elections.
He further stated, ?It is disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself.?
Parliamentary Action
The Parliamentary Committee on Communication and Information Technology, led by Dubey, will now summon Meta representatives to address the issue. The committee seeks to ensure accountability from global tech companies for statements that could mislead public opinion and affect India's democratic image.
