Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Meta Platforms restricted his personal account on Facebook and Instagram, alleging the move was politically motivated. He warned the company not to “bow down” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting the action could curb opposition voices ahead of upcoming elections.
Meta, which operates the two largest social networks in India, enforces community-standards policies that can limit accounts that violate its rules. The tech giant has faced criticism in the past for removing or limiting posts by Indian politicians, prompting frequent dialogue with the government.
Kejriwal’s statement came after he noticed reduced visibility of his posts and an inability to post new content. He claimed the restriction was a direct response to his criticism of the central government and urged Meta to provide a clear explanation.
Meta has not issued an official comment as of the time of writing. The company’s spokesperson previously said it applies its policies uniformly, regardless of political affiliation.
The dispute adds to ongoing tension between Indian officials and global platforms over content moderation, data storage and compliance with new digital-media rules. Observers expect further statements from both sides and possible legal or regulatory steps.