In a controversial development, Meta India has issued an apology following a statement by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, suggesting that the Indian government lost the 2024 elections due to its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Meta India’s Vice President Shivnath Thukral clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that the assertion was an “inadvertent error,” emphasizing that while many countries saw incumbent parties lose elections, this was not the case in India.

The apology followed sharp reactions from Indian officials, including BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who heads the parliamentary committee on communications and information technology. Dubey announced plans to summon Meta to address the misinformation, accusing the company of tarnishing India's democratic image. “Meta must apologize to the Indian Parliament and its people for this mistake,” he stated.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also criticized Zuckerberg, calling his claims disappointing and factually incorrect. Vaishnaw highlighted that over 640 million Indian voters participated in the 2024 elections, reaffirming their trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s NDA government.

The controversy stems from Zuckerberg's remarks during a podcast, where he discussed a global breakdown of trust in governments post-Covid. He mentioned that incumbent governments worldwide, including India, faced losses in the 2024 elections.

Zuckerberg's comments, coupled with Meta's recent content policy changes, have intensified scrutiny over the company's role in disseminating information. With India being one of Meta's largest markets, this incident underscores the significance of accuracy and accountability in public statements from global tech leaders.