Facebook Hid Posts Calling for Modi's Resignation 'By Mistake'

Facebook Temporarily Concealed “ResignModi” Posts in India

Updated at 1:17 AM IST, Thursday: Andy Stone, representing Facebook’s communications team, stated that the company has reinstated the posts and is currently investigating the cause of the issue.

Updated at 5:50 AM IST, Thursday: Facebook clarified that the hashtag was temporarily blocked due to an error, and not as a result of a request from the Indian government. The hashtag has since been restored.

The original story is presented below.

Initial Censorship and Subsequent Explanation

Facebook has temporarily suppressed all posts containing the hashtag “ResignModi” within India. This action occurred shortly after the social media giant, alongside Twitter, adhered to a directive from New Delhi to censor certain posts expressing criticism of the Indian government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a statement on its official website, Facebook explained that posts utilizing the “ResignModi” hashtag were hidden because some content violated its established community guidelines. This was asserted to be independent of any legal mandate. (Currently, a search for “ResignModi” yields some results for users located in the United States.)

Hashtag Visibility on Other Platforms and Market Significance

At the time of this report’s publication, tweets including the hashtag “#ResignModi” remained visible within India. India represents Facebook’s largest user base globally, with over 450 million WhatsApp users and approximately 400 million Facebook users.

Rising COVID-19 Cases and Public Frustration

A recent surge in COVID-19 cases within the South Asian nation has led to widespread public discontent. Many citizens are voicing their frustrations on social media platforms regarding the government’s handling of the crisis.

These frustrations stem from difficulties in securing essential resources, including available hospital beds, oxygen supplies, and necessary medications. India reported more than 360,000 new confirmed infections on Wednesday.

Lack of Initial Response and Further Clarification

Facebook did not initially respond to inquiries regarding the censorship of posts in India over the preceding weekend. A response to a request for comment made on Wednesday was also not immediately provided.