New Delhi, January 13, 2025– Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology – Ashwini Vaishnaw slammed remarks by Mark Zuckerberg-CEO of Meta-that suggested the prevailing governments had fallen in 2020-2024 general elections held in various countries, including India, “as factually wrong”.
Zuckerberg’s Controversial Assertion
In his interview in the podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Zuckerberg spoke about the political scenario worldwide in post-COVID-19 times. He said, “2024 was a big election year worldwide…it is just that the incumbents lost essentially in all of them,” even adding the recent elections in India fail to make the current Modi-led government hold office.
Vaishnaw’s Rebuttal
He took to social media to set the record straight with the minister pouring the example of over 640 million-auditable batch of voters turned out in favor of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led under PM Narendra Modi for the 2024 elections.
According to Vaishnaw, “India held elections for more than 640 million voters in 2024, reaffirming the trust of the people of India in the leadership of NDA led by PM Narendra Modi. The claim of Mr. Zuckerberg that most incumbents lost from where they enacted subsequent rules, including India in the 2024 elections, is factually incorrect”.
On achievements during government stewardship, Vaishnaw took into the record: “From free food for 800 million, 2.2 million free vaccines and relief to countries around the world during COVID, with the fastest growing major economy, the victory PM Modi in the 3rd decisive term is good governance and public trust. He further expressed personality in Zuckerberg for his misinformation and urged Meta to stand for facts and credibility.
Global Electoral Landscape in 2024
The global electoral landscape in 2024 presents a mixed bag, contrary to Zuckerberg’s assertions:
- India: Together with the NDA in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Modi wielded a sure third consecutive term after 293 seats were won. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) experienced a decline, winning 240 against 303 in the 2019 elections. The opposition INDIA bloc secured 234 seats.
- United States: Incumbent Joe Biden did not run for re-election. The race for president ended with Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, winning over Vice President Kamala Harris, 312 electoral votes to 226.
- United Kingdom: The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, had a massive victory, winning 412 seats, and putting an end to the Conservative Party’s 14 years in power. The Conservative Party led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak got a mere 121 seats-it has been their worst performing.
- Russia: President Vladimir Putin was re-elected with about 87.3% of the votes, thus extending his rule at least until 2030.
- Bangladesh: The Awami League of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won 224 of the 300 parliamentary seats, entrenching her into the fourth consecutive term. Yet, the ensuing political turmoil quickly ousted her when a student uprising swept through in August.
- Pakistan: Independent candidates aligned with former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf secured 93 of the 266 contested seats. Yet Shehbaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz became Prime Minister, having formed a coalition government.
Implications and Reactions
Zuckerberg’s misinterpretation of India’s election has provoked debates on the responsibility lying with tech leaders throughout the world in representing political events accurately. Minister Vaishnaw’s prompt rebuttal establishes that the Indian government will always act with the aim of correcting misinformation and reinstating the integrity of the democratic process.
The incident also highlights the broader challenges of information dissemination in the digital age, where statements from influential figures can rapidly shape public perception. It serves as a reminder of the importance of fact-checking and the ethical obligations of tech platforms in curbing the spread of inaccuracies.
