Government seeks changes to Meta’s Facebook and Instagram algorithms
New Delhi: The Centre has asked Meta to re-examine the algorithms that decide what users see on Facebook and Instagram, amid growing concerns that social media platforms may be amplifying selective or misleading content in India.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued an advisory to the company, asking it to ensure that its recommendation and ranking systems do not push users towards a narrow set of viewpoints. Instead, the ministry wants the platforms to offer users a wider range of credible and relevant information.
The government has also sought stronger safeguards to detect and act on content that spreads rapidly through recommendation systems and has the potential to create confusion, provoke violence or disturb public order. Meta has been told to put these measures in place without delay and report back on the steps taken.
The advisory specifically draws attention to photographs, videos and graphics connected to current events, particularly where their authenticity, timing, location or context is unclear.
The ministry has asked Meta to add appropriate context when old or unrelated visuals are presented as recent, when footage is edited selectively, or when unverified claims are circulated about emergencies, police action or other official measures.
The directive marks another stage in the government’s increased monitoring of Meta’s content moderation and recommendation practices. In August, officials had questioned the company’s executives on issues including recommendation algorithms, deepfakes, synthetic media and measures to prevent unlawful content.
Meta has separately tightened its content and advertising safeguards following concerns over child sexual exploitation material.
Earlier this month, the company said it had introduced new AI-based systems to review advertisements and had removed 5.3 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content in India between January and June 2026. The company said more than 98 per cent of this content was identified proactively.
(Inputs from IANS)