Meta has taken down the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA T Raja Singh, citing violations of its “dangerous individuals and organizations” policy. Singh, who represents the Goshamahal constituency in Telangana, has faced repeated allegations of spreading hate speech targeting minority communities.
A report by India Hate Lab revealed that Singh frequently used social media—particularly Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram—to amplify his speeches. The study analyzed multiple events, including political rallies, election campaigns, religious processions, and nationalist gatherings, where he allegedly incited violence.
The report found that Facebook and YouTube played a crucial role in broadcasting Singh’s speeches. Facebook alone hosted 495 hate speech videos, while YouTube carried 211 videos.
The data further shows that between April and June 2024—when India held its general elections—at least 266 anti-minority hate speeches from senior BJP leaders were live-streamed on YouTube, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter). Many of these speeches were uploaded through official party accounts.
74.9% of Singh’s Hate Speech Appeared on Facebook
Singh’s 259 documented cases of hate speech were primarily spread online. The report found that:
- Facebook hosted 164 speeches (74.9% of total)
- YouTube had 49 videos (22.4%)
- Instagram carried 6 posts
Additionally, Singh made 32 hate speeches at public events, including 22 instances where he directly incited violence—primarily against Muslims and, in some cases, Christians. Of these speeches, 16 were first posted on YouTube, while 13 appeared on Facebook.
Despite Ban, Supporters Keep Spreading Content
Although Meta banned Singh’s official accounts, his content continues to spread through proxy pages and backup accounts.
On Facebook, several banned accounts, including ‘Raja Singh (Bhagyanagar) MLA’, ‘Raja Singh (Dhoolpet) MLA’, and ‘RAJA SINGH YUVA SENA (RSYS)’, have resurfaced. Some of these pages had over 100,000 followers before removal.
On Instagram, Singh and his supporters operated at least four major accounts:
- @rajasinghmla
- @t.usharajasinghofficial
- @t.rajabhaimla1
- @t.rajabhaimla3
These accounts collectively had nearly 198,900 followers before action was taken.
Meta’s ban on Raja Singh is a significant step, but it highlights the larger challenge of regulating hate speech online. Despite bans, political figures and their supporters often find ways to bypass restrictions through backup accounts.
With elections and communal tensions rising, platforms like Facebook and YouTube remain under scrutiny for their role in moderating extremist content. The effectiveness of these bans will depend on how tech giants enforce their policies and prevent the continuous spread of hate speech.
