MeitY asks Meta to review FB, Insta recommendation algorithms over misleading content

Govt has asked Meta to prevent its algorithms from disproportionately amplifying limited narratives around manipulated or out-of-context content that could affect public order

by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 19, 2026 9:14 AM | 2 min read

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has instructed Meta to review its content recommendation and ranking systems on Facebook and Instagram to prevent disproportionate exposure to limited narratives.
The advisory, issued on October 10, emphasizes the need for greater diversity in the information presented to users and calls for enhanced mechanisms to identify and manage potentially harmful content.
MeitY highlighted concerns regarding the authenticity of visuals related to public events and the need for context around old or misleading content, while ensuring that measures respect lawful expression.
This directive follows previous scrutiny of Meta's algorithms and moderation practices in India, indicating a broader regulatory focus on how social media platforms amplify content.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has asked Meta to review its content recommendation and ranking systems on Facebook and Instagram, stepping up government scrutiny of how social-media algorithms amplify information in India.

In an advisory dated October 10, the ministry asked Meta to ensure its recommendation systems do not result in the “disproportionate exposure of users to a single or limited set of narratives” and to provide users with greater diversity of relevant and credible information.

MeitY also directed the company to strengthen mechanisms for rapidly identifying, reviewing and escalating content gaining significant reach through recommendation systems when it could contribute to public confusion, violence or disruption of public order. Meta has been asked to implement the measures immediately and inform the ministry of the action taken.

The advisory specifically flags photographs, videos and graphics depicting ongoing public events where their authenticity, date, location or circumstances may not be clear. It calls for additional context around old or unrelated visuals presented as current, selectively edited footage and unverified claims concerning emergencies, police action and other official measures.

The directive invokes intermediary due-diligence requirements under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and IT Rules, 2021, while saying the measures should respect lawful expression and legitimate public discourse.

It represents the latest escalation in scrutiny of Meta's algorithmic and moderation systems in India. In August, government officials questioned Meta executives over recommendation algorithms, deepfakes, synthetic content and safeguards against unlawful material.

Meta has separately been strengthening its content and advertising safeguards following concerns over child sexual exploitation material. The company said this month that it had deployed new AI-based ad-review measures and had actioned 5.3 million pieces of child sexual exploitation content in India during January-June 2026, more than 98% of which it said was detected proactively.

For advertisers and platforms, the latest advisory broadens the regulatory conversation beyond content removal. The recommendation engine itself (what gets amplified, how often and to whom) is increasingly becoming part of the regulatory scrutiny, potentially putting greater pressure on platforms to explain and modify the systems that determine organic as well as paid content distribution.