Ankhi Das Exits Facebook India: Top Executive Departs

Ankhi Das, a senior executive at Facebook India, is departing from the company this Tuesday, several months after accusations surfaced alleging she influenced the application of the company’s policies regarding hate speech within the country, potentially favoring the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is currently in power.

Facebook has refuted these claims, and sources familiar with Das’s situation (pictured above) indicate her departure is unrelated to recent media coverage. Das, who held the position of Public Policy director for Facebook India, South and Central Asia, stated she is leaving to dedicate herself to opportunities in public service.

In a message addressed to her colleagues, Das reflected on her time with Facebook, recalling the company’s beginnings and the early stages of the internet landscape in India when she joined in 2011. “We began as a small, privately held startup, motivated solely by our core mission to connect people across India. After nine years, I believe we have largely achieved that goal,” she explained.

“I have gained a great deal from the exceptionally intelligent and skilled individuals within the company, especially those on the policy team. This is a truly remarkable company comprised of outstanding people. Thank you, Mark, for creating something impactful for the world. I trust I have served you and the company effectively, and I anticipate we will remain connected on Facebook,” added Das, who was among the first Facebook employees in India.

Ajit Mohan, the head of Facebook India, released a statement saying, “Ankhi was one of our initial employees in India and significantly contributed to the company’s growth and the development of its services over the past nine years. She has been a valued member of my leadership team for the last two years, making substantial contributions. We appreciate her dedication and wish her success in her future endeavors.”

Reports from the WSJ suggest that Das may have protected politicians linked to the ruling party in India from Facebook’s policies against anti-Muslim hate speech and content moderation, believing such actions could negatively impact the company’s business interests in India, its largest user base. Facebook, which connects with over 400 million internet users in India, has expanded its presence in the country in recent years through investments in startups and the education sector.

Following the publication of the WSJ report, both major political parties in India accused Facebook of demonstrating bias towards the opposing party. Ravi Shankar Prasad, India’s Minister of Information Technology, also alleged that Facebook was suppressing pages with right-leaning viewpoints.

Das, facing considerable criticism after the reports were published, filed a criminal complaint against individuals she accused of attempting to damage her reputation, among other charges. This complaint included a journalist, and a review of the journalist’s post, which had prompted Das’s concern, revealed it was simply a summary of a news article.

Both Das and Mohan have recently testified before multiple committees, responding to questions from Indian politicians on a variety of subjects. Earlier last month, Facebook suspended a politician from the BJP from its platform for violating its hate-speech guidelines.