Indian officials have held heated discussions with Google, Twitter and Facebook for not proactively removing what they described as fake news on their platforms, sources told Reuters, the government’s latest altercation with Big Tech. The officials, from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), strongly criticized the companies and said their inaction on fake news was forcing the Indian government to order content takedowns, which in turn drew international criticism that authorities were suppressing free expression, two sources said.
The sources, who were familiar with the proceedings at the virtual meeting on Monday, described the conversation as tense and heated, signalling a new low in ties between American tech giants and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration. The officials did not issue any ultimatum to the companies at the meeting, the sources said. The government has been tightening tech sector's regulation is wants companies to do more on content moderation.
Home Technology Tech India seeks tougher action from US tech giants on fake news
India seeks tougher action from US tech giants on fake news
The officials, from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) criticized the companies and said their inaction on fake news was forcing the Indian government to order content takedown
India ticks off tech firms for not removing "fake news."
Indian officials have held heated discussions with Google, Twitter and Facebook for not proactively removing what they described as fake news on their platforms, sources told Reuters, the government’s latest altercation with Big Tech. The officials, from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), strongly criticized the companies and said their inaction on fake news was forcing the Indian government to order content takedowns, which in turn drew international criticism that authorities were suppressing free expression, two sources said.
The sources, who were familiar with the proceedings at the virtual meeting on Monday, described the conversation as tense and heated, signalling a new low in ties between American tech giants and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration. The officials did not issue any ultimatum to the companies at the meeting, the sources said. The government has been tightening tech sector regulation is wants companies to do more on content moderation.
The meeting was a follow-up to the I&B ministry’s use of “emergency powers” in December and January to order the blocking of 55 channels on Google’s YouTube platform, and some Twitter and Facebook accounts The government had said the channels were promoting “fake news” or “anti-India” content and that the disinformation was being spread by accounts based in neighboring Pakistan.
The I&B ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the meeting, which was also attended by Indian content-sharing platforms Share Chat, which have millions of users in the country. Facebook, now known as Meta, Twitter and ShareChat declined comment.
Without commenting on the meeting, Alphabet Inc’s Google said in a statement it reviews government’s requests and “where appropriate, we restrict or remove content in keeping with local laws.” said it complies with local laws and has strong content moderation practices in place.
This allowed authorities to censor content even if it does not violate public order or the security of the state, he said.
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