Meta approves ads inciting violence against Muslims during Indian election
Islamabad: An investigation has revealed that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, approved advertisements that called for violence against Muslims during India’s recent general election.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the investigation, conducted by Ekō and India Civil Watch International, submitted 22 advertisements to Meta’s ad library that contained inflammatory language and hate speech targeting Muslims. Despite Meta’s community standards against hate speech and violence, 14 of the ads were approved within 24 hours, with three more approved after minor tweaks.
The approved ads included language such as “let’s burn this vermin” and “Hindu blood is spilling, these invaders must be burned”, as well as false claims about political leaders and calls for execution. Only five ads were rejected.
The investigation has raised concerns about Meta’s ability to enforce its policies and control the spread of hate speech and disinformation on its platforms, particularly amid rising anti-Muslim sentiment in India. This is not the first time Meta has faced criticism for its handling of Islamophobic content, and the company’s failure to effectively address the issue has sparked widespread concern.
The approval of these ads has sparked outrage and calls for greater accountability from social media companies in preventing the spread of hate speech and violence.
