Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tribute to 19th-century social reformer Jyotiba Phule on social media platform X sparked controversy on Saturday, as several user-generated “community notes” attached to the post carried critical and disparaging remarks.
Some of these notes, which appeared under the Prime Minister’s message, accused Phule of being “anti-Hindu” and questioned his legacy as a reformer. One note claimed his work was “less about equality than a theological assault on Vedas & Hinduism,” while another dismissed the tribute as an attempt to “whitewash” his views.
Community Notes Feature Under Scrutiny
The controversy comes at a time when the Union government is considering changes to the Information Technology Rules to regulate the community notes feature on platforms like X. The tool allows users to add context or fact-check posts, and notes are displayed only if they are rated helpful by a diverse group of contributors.
Officials have indicated that under the proposed amendments, the government could gain the power to act against such notes, including seeking their removal if they are deemed unlawful or misleading in matters related to news and current affairs.
Government’s Concerns Over User Fact-Checking
The move follows several instances where community notes have contradicted or questioned statements made by government leaders. Recently, a note attached to a video shared by Modi reportedly claimed that certain government policies on social justice violated constitutional provisions. That note was later removed.
Similarly, another note fact-checking a political post on “infiltration” was also taken down, highlighting growing tensions around the feature.
IT Rules Amendment Proposal
The proposed changes to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 were introduced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on March 30. The amendments aim to bring user-generated content, including community notes, under a clearer regulatory framework.
IT Secretary S. Krishnan said the amendments are “clarificatory and incidental in nature” and do not expand government powers. The Centre has invited public feedback on the proposal, with the consultation deadline currently set for April 14, though it may be extended.
Broader Debate on Free Speech and Moderation
The debate over regulating community notes has raised concerns about the balance between curbing misinformation and protecting free expression online. Platforms like X maintain that they do not directly moderate notes, relying instead on crowd-sourced verification from users with different viewpoints.
Meanwhile, similar features are being explored by other platforms, including Meta, which is considering expanding community notes to Facebook and Instagram in India.
Political Reactions Continue
Separately, Modi’s praise for Nitish Kumar also drew critical responses online, with users posting videos and comments questioning development claims in Bihar.
