Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw rejects allegations made by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg today on the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections in India. He was speaking to podcaster Joe Rogan when Zuckerberg said that most incumbent governments around the world, including India, lost elections in 2024 due to post-pandemic challenges, inflation, and government responses to COVID-19.
The Indian government reacted badly to the statement as the National Democratic Alliance, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, won the 2024 elections with a clear majority.
Ashwini Vaishnaw
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, fact-checked Zuckerberg through the social media site X (formerly Twitter). He said:
“As the world’s largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. The people of India have reaffirmed their trust in NDA led by PM @narendramodi Ji’s leadership.”
Vaishnaw noted that Modi’s victory reflects public confidence in the governance and policies of his administration.
Zuckerberg’s Elections Speech
During the podcast, Zuckerberg pointed out a “global phenomenon” where citizens of the world had lost faith in governments because of various economic and policy issues following COVID-19. He stated:“2024 was a very big election year around the world. The incumbents basically lost every single one. whether it was because of inflation, economic policies to deal with COVID, or just how governments handled COVID.”
However, his claim did not reflect the electoral results in India, where the NDA won with a clear majority.
International Response to Zuckerberg’s Fact-Checking Initiative
Zuckerberg’s comments and Meta’s overall fact-checking initiatives have been criticized, with opponents arguing that the policies of the platform may stifle free speech.
US President Joe Biden termed the move “really shameful.”
The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) warned of the “devastating consequences” of taking the fact-checking program to countries with fragile political stability.
The IFCN said in an open letter, “Some countries are highly vulnerable to misinformation that spurs political instability, election interference, mob violence, and even genocide.”
Defending his stance, Zuckerberg compared the fact-checking program to George Orwell’s 1984, suggesting it bordered on censorship.
India’s Election Outcome: The 2024 general elections reaffirmed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, with the NDA securing its third term.
Global Implications: Zuckerberg’s claims highlight the complexities of addressing global electoral trends and the role of misinformation.
Fact-Checking Controversy: Meta’s policies have triggered debates on the balance between curbing misinformation and preserving free speech globally.
The exchange underlines the importance of accurate representations in media and the growing need for transparency in technology-driven narratives.