The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has asked Meta, which operates Instagram and Facebook, to review its content recommendation algorithms to prevent disproportionate exposure to limited narratives. The advisory, issued on October 10, also called for stronger checks on content that could incite violence or cause public disorder, according to inc42.com.
MeitY's advisory specifically instructed Meta to provide adequate context for photographs, videos, graphics, and other content related to ongoing public events, especially when authenticity, date, or location may not be clear to users. It emphasized reviewing recommendation and content-ranking mechanisms to avoid amplifying misleading or manipulated material repeatedly. The ministry also urged Meta to implement rapid identification and escalation of content that gains significant reach and could lead to public confusion or disturbances, as reported by inc42.com.
This move comes amid protests in Delhi by the Cockroach Janta Party and opposition parties demanding the resignation of the chief election commissioner. The advisory aims to ensure that Meta's recommendation systems do not disproportionately expose users to a narrow set of narratives but instead provide diverse, credible information. It reflects growing government scrutiny over social media platforms' role in shaping public discourse and preventing misinformation.
The advisory from MeitY was issued on October 10 and highlights the government's focus on regulating digital content to maintain public order. Meta is expected to comply with these directives to avoid potential regulatory actions, according to inc42.com.