Meta apologises following a controversial statement by CEO Mark Zuckerberg regarding India’s 2024 elections. The remarks, which claimed that the incumbent government in India lost the election post-pandemic, have sparked a backlash from Indian officials.
‘We would like to apologise for this inadvertent error. India remains an incredibly important country for Meta, and we look forward to being at the heart of its innovative future,‘ said Shivnath Thukral, Vice President of Public Policy at Meta India, in a post on X.
The apology follows a strong rebuttal from Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who called Zuckerberg’s statement ‘factually incorrect.’ Vaishnaw pointed out that India, the world’s largest democracy, conducted a general election in 2024 with over 640 million voters, where the people reaffirmed their trust in the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and the NDA.
Zuckerberg’s comments were made during an appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast, where he discussed the global trend of incumbent governments losing elections in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Vaishnaw emphasised that India’s elections did not follow this pattern.
In response to the controversy,
‘Mark’s observation that many incumbent parties were not re-elected in 2024 elections holds true for several countries, BUT not India.’ – Thukral clarified on X
The issue has further escalated with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, head of the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, announcing plans to summon Meta for questioning. ‘Incorrect information about any democratic country tarnishes its image. This organisation will have to apologise to the Indian Parliament and the people here for this mistake,’ Dubey posted on X.
Asked whether the committee has the authority to take action against Meta officials, he said, “Powers of the Committee are the powers of the Indian Parliament. The Indian Parliament is a sovereign power. So, no other country can challenge the authority of parliament. If the Indian Parliament wants, it can take any decision.’
Meta apologises, and the ongoing discussions underscore the sensitivity of election-related statements and the intense scrutiny international companies face in India.
In light of the controversy surrounding Meta’s statement, businesses operating in India must remain mindful of the legal implications of their public statements. Vakilsearch offers expert legal services to help international companies navigate India’s legal landscape, ensuring compliance and preventing legal issues.
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