New Delhi, October 18, 2026: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has asked Meta to review how Facebook and Instagram recommend content related to law-and-order situations, warning that misleading, manipulated or out-of-context posts could create public confusion and potentially disturb public order.
The advisory also calls on Meta to ensure that its recommendation systems do not disproportionately expose users to a single or limited set of narratives during sensitive public events.
Advisory Specifically Targets Meta
Dated October 10, the advisory was issued specifically to Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. It followed a broader advisory issued on October 8 asking social-media intermediaries to prioritise government complaints concerning content that could affect public order.
Government Flags Algorithmic Amplification
MeitY expressed concern that videos, photographs, statements and graphics linked to ongoing public events were being prominently displayed through social-media recommendation systems.
According to the ministry, material circulated without sufficient context or amplified disproportionately could create confusion, apprehension or disturbances. The government has therefore asked Meta to review how its algorithms rank and recommend such content.
Review of Content-Ranking Systems Sought
A key request is for Meta to examine its content-ranking and recommendation mechanisms to prevent potentially misleading, manipulated or out-of-context material from being repeatedly or disproportionately recommended to users.
The advisory also calls for better contextual information accompanying photographs, videos and graphics related to ongoing events, particularly when their date, location, authenticity or circumstances are unclear.
Concern Over a ‘Single Narrative’
The government has asked Meta to ensure that users are not disproportionately exposed to a single narrative or a limited range of perspectives. Instead, the platform has been asked to provide an appropriate diversity of relevant and credible information.
However, the advisory does not publicly specify how narrative diversity should be measured or who would determine what qualifies as credible information. These questions have raised concerns among digital-rights advocates about the potential impact on legitimate political speech and independent reporting.
Faster Action on Rapidly Spreading Content
MeitY has also asked Meta to strengthen systems for identifying, reviewing and escalating posts that are rapidly gaining reach, particularly material that could potentially contribute to violence, public disorder or widespread confusion.
Categories identified for greater scrutiny include:
- Old or unrelated visuals presented as current events.
- Selectively edited videos and photographs.
- Unverified claims concerning police action or official restrictions.
- Law-and-order footage circulated without adequate context.
- Content that could incite violence or unlawful activity.
Advisory Issued Amid Protest Activity
Although the advisory does not name a specific demonstration, it was issued during a period of heightened protest activity in Delhi. The October 10 communication coincided with detentions linked to youth-led demonstrations and temporary internet restrictions in parts of the capital.
Immediate Implementation and Compliance Report
Unlike the earlier general advisory, the latest communication asks Meta to implement the measures with immediate effect and inform the ministry about the steps taken.
At the time of publication, Meta had not publicly responded to the reported advisory.
The ministry also referred to the company’s due-diligence obligations under India’s Information Technology Act and Information Technology Rules, 2021. It asked Meta to cooperate promptly with authorised law-enforcement agencies and provide information in accordance with applicable legal procedures.
Digital-Rights Advocates Warn of Censorship Risks
Apar Gupta of the Internet Freedom Foundation criticised the advisory, arguing that broad terms such as inadequate context and heightened public-order sensitivity could encourage excessive downranking or removal of legitimate content.
He also called for greater transparency regarding content restrictions imposed in response to government requests.
The concerns highlight the difficulty of distinguishing genuinely misleading material from legitimate journalism, political criticism or public-interest reporting, particularly when platforms reduce a post’s visibility without formally removing it.
Earlier Calls for Algorithmic Transparency
The latest intervention follows previous discussions between the government and Meta concerning how Facebook and Instagram algorithms determine the reach and visibility of content.
In August, the Centre had sought greater transparency around Meta’s recommendation systems and cooperation with Indian authorities.
Public Order and Freedom of Expression in Focus
The advisory brings renewed attention to the challenge of limiting the viral spread of misleading content while protecting freedom of expression online. It also raises questions about how recommendation algorithms should be monitored, how decisions to reduce content visibility should be explained, and what safeguards should apply when governments request changes to platform systems.
Attention will now turn to Meta’s response, the measures it adopts and whether the company provides greater transparency about any changes to its recommendation systems.
Source: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Hindustan Times, The Indian Express
Supreme News Network
