Meta Approved Political Ads Promoting Hate Speech and Anti-Muslim Slurs

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has failed to identify and block ads featuring AI-generated images that promote hate speech, election misinformation, and incitement to violence. This finding comes from recent research conducted by the corporate accountability group Ekō, in collaboration with India Civil Watch International.

Facebook Approved Anti-Muslim Ads in India: Report

A report shared exclusively with The Guardian revealed that Facebook approved ads containing derogatory slurs against Muslims in India, including phrases like “let’s burn this vermin” and “Hindu blood is spilling, these invaders must be burned,” alongside Hindu supremacist rhetoric and false information about political figures.

As reported by The Guardian, these concerning findings come amid crucial elections in India. Researchers have identified a network of malicious actors using Meta ads to spread hate speech and disinformation to millions of Indian voters, with Meta benefiting financially.

Between May 8 and May 13, Meta approved 14 highly provocative ads, according to the report. These ads called for violent uprisings against Muslim minorities, spread blatant disinformation rooted in communal and religious conspiracy theories common in India’s political environment, and incited violence through Hindu supremacist narratives.

One of the approved ads also mirrored the messaging of a recently doctored video of Home Minister Amit Shah, which falsely claimed he threatened to abolish affirmative action policies for oppressed caste groups. This doctored video has led to notices and arrests of opposition party members.

Each ad featured manipulated images created by AI tools, highlighting how quickly and easily this technology can be used to spread harmful content.

The report noted that before India’s election, Meta pledged to prioritize detecting and removing violative AI-generated content, acknowledging concerns about the misuse of AI for spreading misinformation.

However, Meta’s approval of these inflammatory ads, along with its failure to detect or label any of the ads as AI-generated content, indicates that the platform is unprepared to handle AI-generated disinformation. Despite promises to ensure responsible use of new technologies like generative AI and investments in third-party fact-checkers, the findings reveal a significant gap between Meta’s assurances and actual outcomes.

Meta’s Content Moderation Failures

Additionally, Meta’s reactive stance towards disinformation and its failure to adequately handle and label AI-generated content reveal systemic deficiencies in its content moderation efforts. Despite Meta’s public statements about its extensive team of content reviewers and substantial investments in safety and security measures, concerns persist.

For years, civil society groups, whistleblowers, and experts have raised alarms about Meta’s moderation practices, particularly its shortcomings in identifying and tackling harmful content, especially in languages other than English. The report also highlights allegations of political bias towards the ruling BJP.

Despite numerous instances of systemic failures and documented harms over the years, Meta has failed to implement significant corrective actions, according to the report.

Concerns about the erosion of democracy in India and the exploitation of Meta’s platforms by far-right and anti-democratic elements have raised alarms among both Indian and international civil society groups.

Meta’s Role in Election Disinformation: Impact on India

Meta’s failure to protect elections undermines decades of efforts by citizens, policymakers, and courts in India to foster transparent and accountable democratic processes. By allowing the spread of election disinformation and conspiracy theories, Meta has enabled groups to sow discord and, in some cases, incite violence, as seen in recent events in the US and Brazil. India has also experienced violent consequences due to disinformation, such as the 2020 Delhi riots where over 50 people, mostly Muslims, were killed, with Facebook being implicated in fueling hate narratives and violence.

The Guardian noted a previous report by ICWI and Ekō, which revealed that “shadow advertisers” associated with political parties, particularly the BJP, have been paying significant amounts to disseminate unauthorized political advertisements on platforms during India’s elections. Many of these ads were found to promote Islamophobic stereotypes and Hindu supremacist narratives. Meta largely denied that these ads violated their policies.