The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has asked Meta to review how Facebook and Instagram recommend content to Indian users, according to an advisory dated October 10 that came to light over the weekend. The ministry wants Meta's recommendation systems to avoid pushing users towards "a single or limited set of narratives", a request that digital rights groups have sharply criticised.
The advisory was sent only to Meta, on the same day the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and opposition groups had called a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. It was first reported by Hindustan Times on October 18, and the details have since been carried by PTI, ThePrint and MediaNama.
What MeitY Has Asked Meta to Do
The advisory, issued by MeitY's Cyber Laws Division, does not name any protest or event, and the ministry has not published it. Based on the reports, it asks Meta to:
- Ensure its recommendation systems on Facebook and Instagram do not cause "disproportionate exposure of users to a single or limited set of narratives".
- "Endeavour to provide appropriate diversity of relevant and credible information" to users.
- Flag unverified or misleading claims about emergency measures, restrictions, police action or other official steps.
- Make sure such misleading or out-of-context content is not "disproportionately amplified or repeatedly recommended to users".
- Add context to photos and videos of ongoing public events where the date, place or authenticity is unclear.
- Co-operate promptly with law enforcement and authorised agencies, and exercise "enhanced diligence" during periods of heightened public-order sensitivity.
Meta was told to act "with immediate effect" and report back to the ministry on the steps taken. MeitY sources told PTI that agencies had flagged that Meta's algorithms appeared to favour one kind of content. The ministry has also said it respects "lawful expression and legitimate public discourse".
Two Advisories in Three Days
This was not the only message from the ministry. Two days earlier, on October 8, MeitY sent a separate advisory to all social media intermediaries. That one asked platforms to label misleading content or add context to it, and to prioritise complaints from authorised government agencies.
| October 8 advisory | Sent to all social media platforms; on labelling misleading content and prioritising government complaints |
| October 10 advisory | Sent only to Meta; on Facebook and Instagram recommendation algorithms |
| Issued by | MeitY Cyber Laws Division |
| Laws cited | IT Act, 2000 and IT Rules, 2021 |
| Context | CJP and opposition protest at Jantar Mantar over CEC Gyanesh Kumar and SIR |
| Meta's response | No public comment reported so far |
Why the Advisory Is Being Questioned
The advisory cites the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the due diligence obligations under the IT Rules, 2021. However, as both PTI and ThePrint have pointed out, neither the Act nor the Rules contain specific provisions on how platforms design or run their recommendation systems.
The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has called for both advisories to be withdrawn and published, describing the October 10 note as "a censorship directive in all but name". The group argues that MeitY has no statutory power to issue such advisories and that content should be restricted only through reasoned orders under Section 69A of the IT Act or notices that comply with the IT Rules. IFF has also asked Meta to disclose all takedowns, account restrictions and downranking carried out under the advisories.
Separately, a tracker maintained by SFLC.in recorded 181 instances of content restriction covering 382 items between October 1 and 18, with 94 of them linked to the protests, the CJP or the demand for the CEC's resignation. Several news and activist accounts on Instagram were reported to have been withheld in India during that period.
What It Means for Users in India
India is one of Meta's largest markets, with hundreds of millions of people using Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Any change to how content is ranked or recommended could directly shape what users see in their feeds and Reels during politically charged moments.
The episode also adds to a long-running debate over how far the government can go in directing private platforms through advisories, rather than formal blocking orders that can be challenged in court. Recommendation algorithms have so far sat largely outside India's legal framework, and this is one of the first times the ministry has tried to steer them directly.
For ordinary users, the practical effect may show up as more context labels on viral visuals, fewer repeat recommendations of disputed clips, and possibly more restricted posts during periods of unrest.
What Happens Next
Meta has not publicly responded to the reports so far. Attention will now be on whether the company discloses what steps it took, whether MeitY publishes the advisories, and whether any affected user or rights group takes the matter to court.
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