Meta Removes Video of Maharashtra CM Inviting Hindus to WHC
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis's video for the World Hindu Congress faces removal by Meta, raising concerns over content moderation.
Maharashtra CM's video inviting Hindus to WHC was removed by Meta.
Organisers have sought government intervention regarding the removal.
The World Hindu Congress is set to take place in Mumbai from December 18-20.
A video featuring Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, which invited Hindus to the upcoming World Hindu Congress (WHC) in Mumbai, has faced removal by Meta platforms, sparking significant controversy. The video was initially posted on October 26 but was restricted within hours, citing legal requirements under information technology rules. After the event's organisers attempted to re-upload the video, it was taken down again on October 27, prompting them to question Meta's content moderation practices.
The organising committee for the WHC has formally reached out to both the Mumbai and Delhi police, as well as the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, demanding clarity on the legal basis for the video's removal. They have raised concerns about potential bias against Hindu-related content, although these claims have yet to be independently verified. The committee noted that Meta did not specify which legal provisions or platform policies were invoked when restricting the video.
The video in question promotes the WHC, scheduled for December 18-20, with the theme "Samanam Vratam Saha Chittam," which translates to shared resolve and collective determination. Organised by the World Hindu Foundation, the event will include discussions across seven parallel conferences focusing on various topics such as economy, education, and youth engagement, with a limit of 4,000 registered delegates.
Previous iterations of the World Hindu Congress have been held in New Delhi, Chicago, and Bangkok, with notable figures expected to attend the Mumbai edition. Confirmed participants include RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, CM Fadnavis, and several state leaders, indicating the event's significance within the Hindu community.
As the WHC approaches, the organisers are seeking a formal response from Meta regarding the video’s removal and assurance of consistent application of content moderation rules. The situation raises broader questions about the transparency of social media platforms in content regulation, especially when legal justifications are not clearly communicated to affected parties.
