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Technology

Meta faces India warning over algorithms that may narrow what users see

hellohimachalse@gmail.com 19 Oct 2026 2 hours ago

The Union government has asked Meta to review how Facebook and Instagram recommend content in India, according to an advisory dated October 10 and reported by PTI. The direction focuses on systems that may repeatedly expose users to a single or limited set of narratives during sensitive public events.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology also wants faster identification, review and escalation of widely recommended material that could create public confusion, apprehension, violence or disturbance of public order. The advisory was sent to Meta and calls for immediate action, but its complete text was not available on the ministry website when checked.

What the advisory asks Meta to change

Meta has been asked to review recommendation and ranking systems so misleading, manipulated or out-of-context content is not disproportionately amplified. The company should also provide adequate context for photos, videos and graphics when their date, location, authenticity or circumstances are unclear.

The ministry reportedly highlighted old or selectively edited visuals presented as current events, misleading claims about emergencies or police action, and material that could incite violence. It also sought timely cooperation with law enforcement and authorised agencies under the Information Technology Rules, 2021.

Why the move matters

Recommendation systems decide much of what people see without requiring them to search for it. That makes the government’s demand broader than a routine request to remove individual posts. It reaches into the way content is ranked and repeatedly promoted.

The advisory does not publicly identify a specific incident behind the action. Reports linked its timing to protests in Delhi, but that context should not be treated as the ministry’s stated reason. Digital-rights advocates have also warned that loosely defined demands around context and amplification can affect lawful speech.

Meta has separately introduced controls that let Facebook users directly adjust topics shown in Feed and Reels. That product announcement does not confirm how the company will respond to the Indian advisory.

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