Delhi Assembly summons Facebook India representatives over 2020 Delhi riots

New Delhi: Two senior officials of Facebook India are set to appear before the Delhi Assembly's Peace and Harmony committee on November 18. The committee led by AAP MLA Raghav Chadha, formed at the direction of the Delhi Assembly, has been tasked with probing the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots.

As per reports, Facebook India Public Policy Director Shivnath Thukral and Legal Director GV Anand Bhushan will be asked to present their views on social media's role in preventing the spread of false, provocative, and malicious messages that can incite violence.

According to a statement, the proceedings will be live-streamed to maintain transparency in the functioning of the committee.

The Committee had summoned the senior representatives of the social media giant to depose over the North East Delhi riots before the panel on November 2. To which, Facebook India had sought an extension of 14 days to prepare. The team had also requested the committee to share the questions it intended to ask, "or at least the topics of inquiry in advance" so that Facebook's representatives are "equipped with the relevant information".

In an official letter, Shivnath Thukral thanked the committee for the opportunity to assist in its "aims to recommend preventative and remedial measures" concerning the issues of governance, social cohesion, and unity.

"Facebook shares the committee's aim to improve harmony among religious communities, linguistic communities, and social groups," the letter went on to read.

The committee was constituted after the riots that broke out in North East Delhi in February 2020 after clashes between anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and pro-CAA protesters took a violent turn. The time of the mayhem coincided with then US President Donald Trump's maiden trip to India.

Over 50 people had died in the riots. Several posts had then gone viral on social media, mainly on Facebook, adding fuel to the fire.