"Meta CEO's statement about 2024 Indian elections during a podcast with Joe Rogan sparks criticism; Union Minister sets the record straight."
January 13, 2025: New Delhi: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has countered Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent claim regarding the 2024 Indian general elections. During an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan on Friday, Zuckerberg erroneously stated that most incumbent governments, including India, lost elections in 2024. The comment, intended to highlight the global erosion of trust in governments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been labeled as "factually incorrect" by the Union Minister.
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Fact-Check by the Minister
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw took to social media to address Zuckerberg's claims. He posted on X (formerly Twitter):
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"As the world's largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. The people of India reaffirmed their trust in the NDA, led by PM Modi."
The Modi-led NDA government, in reality, secured a decisive victory in the 2024 general elections, earning a third consecutive term.
Vaishnaw further emphasized: “PM Modi's decisive 3rd-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust.”
Zuckerberg's Comments and Controversy
In his interview, Zuckerberg attributed the election outcomes worldwide to the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic challenges, and government policies during the crisis. He remarked:
"2024 was a very big election year around the world. All these countries, including India, had elections. The incumbents basically lost every single one. It seems to have had this effect that's global."
However, these generalized comments have drawn sharp criticism, particularly in India, where the incumbent government successfully retained power.
Global Implications and Responses
The controversy over Zuckerberg’s comments also echoes concerns regarding Meta's policies and its impact on global democracies. Critics have raised alarms about Meta's decisions on fact-checking and content moderation, particularly in politically sensitive regions.
The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) expressed concern about Meta’s perceived retreat from fact-checking in a letter to Zuckerberg, warning of “devastating consequences in vulnerable regions where misinformation can lead to political instability and violence.”
US President Joe Biden also criticized Meta’s approach, describing it as “really shameful.”
Zuckerberg's Defense
Responding to criticism, Zuckerberg defended Meta’s decisions, comparing the scrutiny around fact-checking to “something out of 1984,” referring to George Orwell's dystopian novel.
Despite the backlash, Zuckerberg’s remarks during the podcast continue to spark debate, with Indian officials ensuring that factual inaccuracies about their elections are corrected promptly.
Tags:
Mark Zuckerberg, Ashwini Vaishnaw, PM Modi, India Elections 2024, Joe Rogan Podcast, Meta, COVID-19, Fact-Checking Policies, Global Trust Crisis, Indian Democracy
