Ashwini Vaishnaw Slams Mark Zuckerberg for Misinformation on India’s 2024 Elections

New Delhi: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has condemned Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for speaking inaccurately regarding India’s 2024 general elections. Addressing a podcast with Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg said that incumbents, such as India’s ruling government, lost elections due to a “broad decrease in trust in incumbents.” Vaishnaw termed such claims as misinformation.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, secured a historic third consecutive term in the 2024 general elections, reaffirming Modi’s leadership. On the comments by Mark Zuckerberg, Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “As the world’s largest democracy, India conducted its elections with over 640 million voters participating. The people reaffirmed their trust in the NDA government led by PM Modi. Mr. Zuckerberg’s claim that most incumbent governments, including India’s, lost in the 2024 elections is factually incorrect.”

Vaishnaw Highlights BJP’s Achievements

Vaishnaw attributed the electoral success to the Modi government’s policies and governance. He emphasized some of the key initiatives taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as: Free Food Distribution: Providing basic food items to 800 million citizens. Mass Vaccination: Giving more than 2.2 billion free COVID-19 vaccine doses. Global Support: Providing aid to several nations during the pandemic.

“From free food and vaccines to leading India as the fastest-growing major economy, PM Modi’s decisive victory is a testament to good governance and public trust,” Vaishnaw posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Zuckerberg’s Remarks Spark Backlash

In the podcast, Zuckerberg generalized election outcomes in various countries, stating, “2024 was a big election year around the world. The incumbents basically lost every single one.” His comments drew sharp reactions in India, with leaders emphasizing the country’s unique democratic resilience and the people’s continued support for Modi’s leadership.

Vaishnaw further lamented that it was disheartening to receive misinformation from the mouth of Zuckerberg and requested the global leaders to uphold facts instead. “It’s disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Let’s uphold facts and credibility,” he said.

Meta’s Fact-Checking Policy Change Faces Criticism

The controversy comes amid Meta’s announcement to discontinue its third-party fact-checking initiative in the United States. Instead, the platform plans to implement “Community Notes,” a model that relies on user-driven fact verification. While Meta defends the move as an attempt to empower users, it has faced widespread criticism. US President Joe Biden labeled the decision as “shameful,” questioning the company’s commitment to curbing misinformation.

As the world’s largest democracy, India continues to be a focus of global attention. The Modi government’s third-term victory is a testament to public confidence in its leadership. However, the episode is a reminder of the importance of fact-checking and accountability, especially from influential figures like Zuckerberg, in an era increasingly vulnerable to misinformation.