Public Comment

The increasing power and influence of social media poses a serious threat to democracy in in many countries of the world including the United States.

Prior to the birth of the information age and independence from the British Raj, Indians like most people of other countries had extremely limited news sources which was tightly controlled by the government intolerant of independent thinkers. Families would sit around their radios and often doze off listening to mind numbing news glorifying their national leaders.

There was limited exchange of opinions unless the writer was a foreigner. My brother and I happened to be visiting India in the late 1950’s when a dear English friend, Vic Penry’s, letter to the Hindustan Times went viral. Pendry was harshly critical of the actions of the Central government in response to the brutal lathe charges by Delhi police on a peaceful procession of Sikhs agitating for greater independence.

Not much has changed in the intervening years. Facebook has become a threat to the current prime minister, Narendra Modi who recently ordered Facebook and other tech companies to take down posts critical of its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Facebook meekly complied. But once they did, Facebook execs received a torrent of angry chats from their employees demanding to know why Facebook capitulated and helped Modi stifle dissent. His BJP government has always threatened to banish the company if social media posts are too critical of its actions. let us see if Facebook profits continue to outweigh concerns for democratic ideals. 

When clashes broke out between Israelis and Palestinians, Facebook removed posts from prominent Palestinians and deleted their hashtags. Facebook employees again erupted castigating their company for bowing to pressure from the Israeli government and demanded the ban on messages critical of Israel’s brutal apartheid occupation be reinstated. 

Discontent at Facebook has surged over its recent handling of international affairs, especially by autocrats who refuse to relinquish power. Internews by current and former employees were especially critical of the company’s handling of political events in India and Israel. Over 200 employees signed an open letter calling for an independent third-party to audit treatment of Palestinian posts. 

Zuckerberg and his management team need to pay far more attention to their loyal employees who have enriched the company beyond their wildest dreams rather than buckle under the dark anti-democratic demands of autocratic governments.