Meta Loses Public Policy Head in India Following Google's Lead

Meta’s India Public Policy Head Departs

Shivnath Thukral, Meta’s head of public policy for India, is set to leave the social networking giant. His departure occurs after a tenure of nearly three and a half years and follows a similar move by the former head of public policy at Google.

Extensive Tenure at Meta

Thukral dedicated over seven and a half years to Meta in total. He assumed the role of public policy lead for the South Asian market – representing the company’s largest user base – in November 2022, succeeding Rajiv Aggarwal.

In a recent LinkedIn post, Thukral expressed his sentiments, stating, “Having contributed to the development of key systems and processes, I believe this is an opportune moment to allow the team and the established framework to operate independently.” He further acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, praising his team as the best in the industry.

Recent Regulatory Successes and Ongoing Challenges

Thukral’s exit is announced shortly after Meta achieved a favorable outcome in India regarding WhatsApp’s 2021 data-sharing policy. This policy had previously been subject to a five-year ban imposed by the nation’s antitrust regulator.

Despite this victory, Meta continues to face regulatory hurdles in India. The company, which boasts the largest user base for both Facebook and WhatsApp, and the biggest market for its Meta AI, anticipates the enactment of new data protection rules. These rules may necessitate parental consent for serving content to children.

Concerns from Telecom Operators

Indian telecommunications companies have also voiced concerns regarding WhatsApp’s extensive user base – exceeding 500 million – and its impact on traditional communication methods. Many users are opting for WhatsApp’s instant messaging services for text, voice, and video calls instead of conventional telecom services.

Furthermore, WhatsApp has faced criticism for insufficient measures to curb spam on its platform within India, although recent updates have been implemented to address unsolicited business communications.

Confidence in Future Engagement

Thukral conveyed his confidence in the future of Meta’s policy engagement, writing, “I am confident that our stakeholder engagement is at a constructive and credible point, allowing for further development.” He also expressed his belief in the team’s ability to effectively navigate future challenges.

Succession Plans

Meta has confirmed to TechCrunch that a replacement for Thukral has not yet been appointed.

Similar Departure at Google

This development mirrors a recent change at Google, where Sreenivasa Reddy resigned from his position as policy head in February. Reddy had taken over from Archana Gulati, who resigned in 2022 after only five months in the role.

Google has also not yet named a successor to Reddy, and his departure coincided with ongoing antitrust cases facing the search engine giant in India, some of which remain unresolved.

Official Statement from Meta

Kevin Martin, Meta VP and head of global policy, released a statement acknowledging Thukral’s departure. He stated, “Shivnath Thukral is leaving Meta to pursue new opportunities.” Martin highlighted Thukral’s significant contributions to shaping policy and regulatory discussions in India over the past 7.5 years, expressing gratitude for his leadership and wishing him well.