India urges Meta to curb algorithmic bias in content recommendations

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued a formal advisory to Meta on October 10, instructing the social media giant to implement safeguards against algorithmic bias in how its platforms—Facebook and Instagram—present content to users.

The directive specifically calls on Meta to prevent its recommendation systems from creating "disproportionate exposure" to limited or singular narratives. The ministry also sought assurances that the company would strengthen content moderation protocols to identify and remove material capable of inciting violence, promoting unlawful activities, or triggering public disorder.

According to the advisory, Meta must provide appropriate contextual information alongside photographs, videos, graphics, and other media depicting ongoing public events. The ministry emphasized that such context is especially critical when the authenticity, date, location, or circumstances of content may not be immediately clear to users, potentially leaving audiences vulnerable to misinformation.

While MeitY did not cite specific incidents justifying the advisory, the timing coincides with heightened political tensions in the capital, where various parties have staged demonstrations and called for administrative changes. The directive underscores growing government scrutiny over content moderation practices on major digital platforms operating in India, where billions of users rely on social media for news and information.

The advisory represents part of a broader regulatory push by Indian authorities to ensure that technology companies operating domestically adhere to stricter standards for content curation and fact-checking.