The owner of Facebook and Instagram, Mehta, launched a series of AI-driven political ads to spread disinformation and incite religious violence during India’s elections, as reported exclusively by The Guardian.
The ads included slurs against Muslims in India, promoting Hindu supremacy and misinformation about political leaders. One approved ad even called for the execution of an opposition leader alongside a photo of the Pakistani flag.
These ads, created by the Indian Civil Surveillance International (ICWI) and Ekō, were submitted to Meta’s ad library to test its ability to detect and block inflammatory content during India’s election period.
According to a report, these ads highlighted existing hate speech and misinformation prevalent in India, demonstrating the amplifying effect of social media platforms.
Meta’s approval of the ads raised concerns despite its promises to prevent harmful content during India’s elections, with some approved ads violating community standards on hate speech and violence.
The elections, deciding the return of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP government, have been marked by accusations of anti-Muslim rhetoric and fear-mongering to secure votes.
Critics have pointed out the Modi government’s pro-Hindu policies, leading to increased persecution of India’s Muslim minority and accusations of using social media to promote divisive narratives.
The findings of the report suggest that Meta’s mechanisms to detect harmful content on its platform are insufficient, allowing the spread of hate speech and misinformation unchecked.
Despite facing accusations of enabling hate speech and violence, Meta maintains its commitment to enforcing community standards and safeguarding against harmful content.
The report also exposed unauthorized political ads aligned with particular political parties during Indian elections, perpetuating Islamophobic and supremacist narratives.
Mehta’s failure to curb hate speech and disinformation on their platforms has raised concerns about Meta’s ability to address these issues during critical elections.
As elections continue in India, the role of social media platforms in shaping political discourse and influencing public opinion remains a subject of intense scrutiny.
Source: www.theguardian.com
