Facebook India Head Of Public Policy Ankhi Das Quits While Company Faces Questions On Hate Speech, Data Privacy

Facebook executive Ankhi Das has stepped down from her post weeks after she and the social media giant faced questions over the political content and data security on the platform.

New Delhi: Facebook executive Ankhi Das has stepped down from her post as the company's public policy director for India, South and Central Asia weeks after she and the social media giant faced questions over alleged political bias and concerns pertaining to data security on the platform. 

Ankhi Das has resigned to pursue her interests in public service, the company informed in a statement on Tuesday.

"Ankhi has decided to step down from her role in Facebook to pursue her interest in public service. Ankhi was one of our earliest employees in India and played an instrumental role in the growth of the company and its services over the last 9 years," Ajit Mohan, Managing Director India of Facebook, said in an e-mailed statement.

Das had faced a Joint Committee of Parliament the previous week where she was questioned about political content on the social media platform. Facebook's position on the data protection bill, was also to be clarified.

The session went on for two hours and reportedly some tough questions were put out by the panel members from across various political parties.

According to news agency PTI, sources reported that the MPs also wanted to know the revenue Facebook generates from India and how much of it is spent on data protection. Additionally, they asked how much the company pays in terms of taxes in India.

Facebook Hate Speech Row

In September, Facebook India Head Ajit Mohan had appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology headed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor.

Facebook was questioned over reports published in international media publications such as The Wall Street Journal and TIME magazine - which alleged that Facebook (with its messaging app WhatsApp) is being biased by not applying hate speech norms to posts by BJP supporters or members.

The Journal also reported that an executive - who was later stated to be Ankhi Das - suggested that punishing such violations by BJP workers "would damage business prospects".

The reports were widely shared and Congress including former president Rahul Gandhi quoted them to once again attack the BJP government at centre. "BJP controls Facebook," Rahul Gandhi alleged.

Facebook maintains that it prohibits "hate speech and content that incites violence and we enforce these policies globally without regard to anyone's political position or party affiliation".

(With Agency Inputs)