
Key Points:
- Meta’s Apology: Meta India issued a public apology for Mark Zuckerberg’s comment suggesting that India’s government lost the 2024 election due to its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Zuckerberg’s Podcast Remarks: Speaking on the Joe Rogan podcast, Zuckerberg generalized about global election trends, inadvertently including India in his observation.
- BJP’s Strong Reaction: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Information Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw criticized Zuckerberg for spreading misinformation.
- Fact Check: Despite BJP losing its parliamentary majority in 2024, its alliance secured a comfortable majority, ensuring Prime Minister Modi’s third consecutive term.
- Meta’s India Commitment: Meta reiterated its commitment to India, calling it an “incredibly important country” for the company’s future.
New Delhi: Meta India found itself in the spotlight after its CEO Mark Zuckerberg, during a conversation on the Joe Rogan podcast, commented on global election outcomes, implying that India’s incumbent government lost the 2024 elections due to pandemic-related challenges. The remarks caused an uproar, prompting Meta India to issue a formal apology, labeling Zuckerberg’s statement an “inadvertent error.”
Meta’s Apology and Response
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Shivnath Thukral, Meta India’s Vice President, addressed the controversy, stating:
“Mark’s observation holds true for several countries, BUT not India. We apologize 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.”
This quick response from Meta came after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who heads the parliamentary committee on communications and information technology, announced his intention to summon Meta for clarification. Following the apology, Dubey declared the issue a victory for 140 crore Indians.
BJP Leaders Slam Zuckerberg
India’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw criticized Zuckerberg’s comments as “factually incorrect,” emphasizing the importance of truth and credibility.
Vaishnaw highlighted India’s achievements under Prime Minister Modi during the pandemic:
- 800 million people received free food under government schemes.
- 2.2 billion vaccine doses were distributed free of charge.
- India emerged as the fastest-growing major economy post-COVID.
He further praised Modi’s leadership, attributing the BJP-led alliance’s majority victory in the 2024 elections to good governance and public trust.
What Did Zuckerberg Say?
On the Joe Rogan podcast, Zuckerberg discussed how the pandemic affected global elections, saying:
“2024 was the big election year around the world, and in a lot of countries like India, incumbents lost the polls. There is some sort of global phenomenon… a broad decrease in trust in incumbents and democratic institutions overall.”
While this observation might hold for other nations, it misrepresented India’s election outcome.
India’s 2024 Election Recap
In 2024, the BJP lost its parliamentary majority but retained power through a coalition of its ruling alliance, paving the way for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third consecutive term. The election outcome reaffirmed public trust in Modi’s leadership, despite challenges during the pandemic.
Meta’s Commitment to India
Meta reaffirmed its focus on India, a critical market for the tech giant. The company emphasized its role in fostering innovation and connecting millions of Indian users through its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Meta India’s swift response and apology highlight the significance of India in the global tech landscape. While Zuckerberg’s remarks stirred controversy, the incident underscores the importance of accuracy and sensitivity in addressing the world’s largest democracy. As India continues to grow as a digital and economic powerhouse, such episodes reinforce the need for responsible communication at the highest levels.