Meta Removes BJP MLA Raja Singh’s Social Media Accounts Over Hate Speech
Hyderabad, 20 Ferbuary – (www.deccanlive.com): Meta has taken strict action by removing Facebook and Instagram accounts of BJP MLA T Raja Singh due to hate speech allegations. This was done under Meta’s “dangerous individuals and organizations” policy.
A report by India Hate Lab revealed that Raja Singh’s speeches, often targeting minority communities, were widely shared on social media. Platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram amplified his messages, particularly in 2024. His speeches were linked to political rallies, religious processions, and nationalist events.
Hate Speech Spread on Social Media
Facebook and YouTube were the main platforms for sharing his speeches. The report found that:
- Facebook had 495 hate speech videos.
- YouTube had 211 such videos.
During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections (April to June), 266 hate speeches by senior BJP leaders were live-streamed on YouTube, Facebook, and X.
Majority of Hate Speech on Facebook
Out of Raja Singh’s 259 recorded hate speech incidents:
- 219 were shared online through live streams or uploads.
- Facebook had the highest share with 164 videos (74.9%).
- YouTube had 49 videos (22.4%) and Instagram had six.
The report also revealed that Raja Singh made 32 hate speeches at events across India. In 22 cases, he directly incited violence, mostly against Muslims and sometimes against Christians. Of these, 16 speeches were first shared on YouTube, while 13 appeared on Facebook.
Despite Ban, Hate Speech Continues
Even after Meta banned his accounts, Raja Singh and his supporters continued posting hate speech using proxy social media pages.
Several banned Facebook pages had over 100,000 followers, including:
- ‘Raja Singh (Bhagyanagar) MLA’
- ‘RAJA SINGH YUVA SENA (RSYS)’
On Instagram, four key accounts (@rajasinghmla, @t.usharajasinghofficial, etc.) had nearly 198,900 followers.
Meta’s action highlights efforts to curb hate speech, but content is still being shared through alternative accounts.
