Sonia Gandhi For End To ‘Systematic Influence And Interference’ Of Social Media In Electoral Politics

“We need to protect our democracy and social harmony regardless of who is in power,” she added.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi (Image: ANI)

New Delhi: Urging the government to put an end to “systematic influence and interference” of Facebook and other social media giants in electoral politics, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday laid emphasis on protecting the “democracy and social harmony”.

“I urge the government to put an end to systematic influence and interference of FB and other social media giants in electoral politics of the world’s largest democracy. This is beyond parties and politics,” said Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, ANI reported.

“We need to protect our democracy and social harmony regardless of who is in power,” she added.

The Congress president expressed serious concern over the “rising danger” of social media.

“Thank you for allowing me to take up issue of paramount importance - rising danger of social media being abused to hack our democracy. Global companies like FB and Twitter are used increasingly to shape political narratives by leaders, parties and their proxies,” she said.

Gandhi said it has repeatedly come to public notice that global social media companies are not providing a “level playing field to all parties”.

“Blatant manner in which social harmony is being disturbed by FB with the connivance of ruling establishment is dangerous for our democracy,” she added.

Gandhi further said the young and old minds are being filled with hate through emotionally charged disinformation, adding the “proxy advertising companies” like Facebook are aware of it and are profiting from it.

“Report shows a growing nexus between big corporations, ruling establishment and global social media giants like FB,” she said.