Facebook India policy head Ankhi Das resigns weeks after hate speech controversy

Ankhi Das was the director of public policy for Facebook India, Central and South Asia operations.

Shubham Verma, IT, Kanpur, October 27 2020: Ankhi Das is leaving Facebook on Tuesday. Das, who has been a top executive working as the director of public policy for India, South and Central Asia regions of Facebook operations, is departing at a crucial time right when she is facing allegations over skewing with company’s content moderation policy to promote Bhartiya Jantiya Party (BJP). BJP will be polling against several national and regional political parties in the upcoming Bihar elections.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ankhi Das is exiting Facebook after serving 9 years.
• Das was accused of interfering with company's hate speech policy to favour BJP.
• Facebook is saying Das is leaving the company to pursue personal interest.

On the contrary, Facebook is claiming that Das' exit from the company is not because of the ongoing controversy that is centred on spreading hate speech on the social media platform. It is because she wants to pursue her interest in public service.

In a prepared statement, Ajit Mohan, Managing Director at Facebook India said, “Ankhi has decided to step down from her role in Facebook to pursue her interest in public service. Ankhi was one of our earliest employees in India and played an instrumental role in the growth of the company and its services over the last 9 years. She has been a part of my leadership team over the last 2 years, a role in which she has made enormous contributions. We are grateful for her service and wish her the very best for the future.”

A sting by foreign publications, including The Wall Street Journal and TIME, alleged back in August that Facebook did not censor the posts made by BJP and associated accounts according to the company's hate speech policy. A Facebook executive was reported to have purportedly said that taking punitive measures against BJP's posts "would damage [its] business prospects." Later, this executive was identified as Das who is now leaving the company.2020 : nkhi Das is leaving Facebook on Tuesday. Das, who has been a top executive working as the director of public policy for India, South and Central Asia regions of Facebook operations, is departing at a crucial time right when she is facing allegations over skewing with company’s content moderation policy to promote Bhartiya Jantiya Party (BJP). BJP will be polling against several national and regional political parties in the upcoming Bihar elections.

On the contrary, Facebook is claiming that Das' exit from the company is not because of the ongoing controversy that is centred on spreading hate speech on the social media platform. It is because she wants to pursue her interest in public service.

In a prepared statement, Ajit Mohan, Managing Director at Facebook India said, “Ankhi has decided to step down from her role in Facebook to pursue her interest in public service. Ankhi was one of our earliest employees in India and played an instrumental role in the growth of the company and its services over the last 9 years. She has been a part of my leadership team over the last 2 years, a role in which she has made enormous contributions. We are grateful for her service and wish her the very best for the future.”

A sting by foreign publications, including The Wall Street Journal and TIME, alleged back in August that Facebook did not censor the posts made by BJP and associated accounts according to the company's hate speech policy. A Facebook executive was reported to have purportedly said that taking punitive measures against BJP's posts "would damage [its] business prospects." Later, this executive was identified as Das who is now leaving the company.