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Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Platform Politics

Meta’s apology to the Government of India revives the uncomfortable question of who really controls the flow of political information in today’s turbulent times, the voter or the platform? When the world’s largest social media company admits that it wrongly restricted Prime Minister Modi’s post during a volatile moment in Indian democracy, the issue extends far beyond a single moderation error. Meta’s chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, apologised to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw...

Platform Politics

Meta’s apology to the Government of India revives the uncomfortable question of who really controls the flow of political information in today’s turbulent times, the voter or the platform? When the world’s largest social media company admits that it wrongly restricted Prime Minister Modi’s post during a volatile moment in Indian democracy, the issue extends far beyond a single moderation error. Meta’s chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, apologised to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for restricting the PM’s post, attributing the incident to an ‘operational’ mistake. That explanation does not answer the larger concerns surrounding Meta’s role in shaping political narratives in India. Technology companies insist that they are neutral conduits. But experience suggests otherwise. Their algorithms decide what millions see, what remains invisible and what goes viral. As was evinced in protests in Nepal and Bangladesh, those decisions have influenced public opinion profoundly as any political campaign. These questions are particularly serious given the allegations surrounding the campaign mounted by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which spearheaded the protests over the NEET paper leak. The degeneration of the protests has raised strong suspicions that the protests were hardly organic but receiving paid amplification on social media. Public opinion in a democracy should be shaped by genuine public sentiment and not by opaque algorithms operating inside corporate headquarters thousands of kilometres away. This is not simply about Narendra Modi or the BJP. It is about India’s sovereignty over its own democratic conversation. Elections, protests and political debates must be decided by Indians, not by Western recommendation engines whose workings remain secret and whose executives answer primarily to shareholders in California. If Meta has nothing to hide, it should voluntarily disclose whether content relating to the CJP protests received preferential treatment, whether any exceptional amplification occurred, who authorised it and under what policies. Transparency, and not carefully worded apologies, is the only credible response. No democracy can permit foreign technology companies to become unelected arbiters of its political discourse. When they amplify selectively, they risk manufacturing political momentum that appears organic but may not be. The concern is not confined to one company. Increasingly, global technology corporations possess powers once reserved for states. They curate information, moderate speech, recommend narratives and determine digital visibility for billions. Yet they operate with limited public accountability. That imbalance between influence and responsibility is becoming one of the defining democratic challenges of the digital age. If Meta can inadvertently silence the elected Indian Prime Minister, we are entitled to ask what else its invisible systems may have amplified, buried or shaped without their knowledge.

Veteran Actor Manoj Kumar Passes Away at 87



Legendary Hindi film actor Manoj Kumar has died at the age of 87. He passed away at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, where he had been admitted due to heart-related complications. As per the hospital’s medical certificate, a secondary cause of death was decompensated liver cirrhosis.

 

Manoj Kumar, known for his iconic patriotic films, left a lasting mark on Indian cinema with classics such as Shaheed (1965), Upkar (1967), and Purab Aur Paschim (1970). His deep connection with patriotic themes earned him the nickname ‘Bharat Kumar’. Over the years, he also starred in memorable films like Hariyali Aur Raasta, Woh Kaun Thi, Himalaya Ki God Mein, Do Badan, Patthar Ke Sanam, Neel Kamal, and Kranti.

 

In recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1992 and the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015.

 

Born as Harikrishan Giri Goswami in what is now Pakistan, Manoj Kumar not only acted but also ventured into filmmaking. In an interview with rediff.com, he recalled how his directing journey began unexpectedly:

 

“I never intended to be a director in the first place. I became one by default when during Shaheed I had to direct the film unofficially. Then Lal Bahadur Shastri raised the slogan of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan. That’s how I made Upkar.”

 

Paying tribute on social media, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared old photographs of the late actor and wrote:

 

“Deeply saddened by the passing of legendary actor and filmmaker Shri Manoj Kumar Ji. He was an icon of Indian cinema, who was particularly remembered for his patriotic zeal, which was also reflected in his films. Manoj Ji’s works ignited a spirit of national pride and will continue to inspire generations. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.”

 

Actor Akshay Kumar, whom Manoj Kumar once referred to as his ‘natural successor’, also shared a heartfelt message:

 

“I grew up learning from him that there’s no emotion like love and pride for our country. And if we actors won’t take the lead in showing this emotion, who will? Such a fine person, and one of the biggest assets of our fraternity. RIP Manoj Sir. Om Shanti.”

 

Speaking about being known as ‘Bharat Kumar’, he told Lehren TV:

 

“Bharat ka to taaj yeh jo bharatwashiyon ne mujhe pehnanya hai woh filmon aur vyaktigat jeewan mein nibhana bahot bada bhoj aur zimmedari hai. Yeh bada upkar hai unka mujpar. Main kitna safal aur asafal hua, woh mere deshwashi jante hai. Main ek sadharan sa nagrik hoon.”(“The crown of Bharat that my fellow countrymen have placed on me is a huge responsibility, both in films and in personal life. It’s a great honour. How successful I’ve been, only my fellow citizens can tell. I am just an ordinary man.”)

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