Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has reported that it removed over 27 million pieces of content in India during June 2023. These content removals were carried out across various policies for both Facebook and Instagram.
In particular, Meta took down over 21.8 million pieces of content on Facebook, which were found to be in violation of 13 different policies. On Instagram, the company removed over 5.9 million pieces of content across 12 different policies.
To ensure compliance with the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which mandate big digital and social media platforms with more than 5 million users to publish monthly compliance reports, Meta has been actively monitoring and addressing user-reported issues.
During June, Facebook received 22,437 reports through the Indian grievance mechanism, with 3,507 cases successfully resolved through the use of user tools. For the remaining 18,930 reports that required specialized review, Meta reviewed the content as per their policies and took action on 4,916 reports. The remaining 14,014 reports were reviewed but may not have been acted upon.
Similarly, on Instagram, Meta received 19,913 reports through the Indian grievance mechanism. Out of these, 6,155 cases were successfully resolved through user tools. For the other 13,758 reports that required specialized review, Meta took action on 4,913 reports, and the remaining 8,845 reports were reviewed but may not have been acted upon.
Meta’s commitment to adhering to the IT Rules is evident through its continuous efforts to address content that goes against its community standards. The company mentioned that taking action could involve removing content or applying warnings to photos or videos that might be disturbing to some audiences.
The reports received through the grievance mechanism in May 2023 also saw a record number of complaints, primarily related to inappropriate or abusive content, bullying or harassment, fake profiles, and account hacking.
The monthly compliance reports and the measures taken by Meta demonstrate the company’s dedication to maintaining a safe and responsible online environment for its users in India. By actively monitoring and addressing content violations, Meta aims to provide a positive and secure experience for its vast user base in the country.
